ActionAid Nigeria has demanded full transparency from the Federal government over its proposed N50,000 cash support for poor and vulnerable Nigerians, insisting government must disclose funding source, beneficiary selection criteria and disbursement arrangements.
The organisation raised concerns over conflicting descriptions of the intervention under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention, NERSI, noting that while Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, announced it as a monthly intervention, the programme’s official website describes it as a one-off grant.
In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said Nigerians deserve clear and verifiable information on financial commitments and mechanisms to ensure public funds reach intended beneficiaries.
Mamedu said government must explain whether the intervention is financed through existing budgetary allocations, supplementary appropriations, savings from economic reforms, development financing or other sources.
He also called for disclosure of total amount committed, funds released and administrative costs.
“Direct cash assistance can provide immediate relief, but such interventions must be transparent, equitable and sustainable,” he said.
ActionAid said absence of a clearly disclosed budget, beneficiary targets and timeline raises questions about scale and sustainability, noting that supporting one million households with N50,000 monthly would require N50 billion, while five million households would cost N250 billion monthly, stressing need for transparent budgeting, legislative oversight and regular public reporting.
The organisation also questioned reliance on the National Social Register and verified national identity records for selection.
According to the statement, the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office, NASSCO, says the register contains more than 20 million poor and vulnerable households, but questions remain about when it was last updated and how newly impoverished households would be captured.
It urged government to prioritise women-headed households, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, older persons and vulnerable rural communities.
The group warned against making access to social protection dependent solely on national identification documents, mobile phones or bank accounts, calling for accessible mechanisms for eligible Nigerians excluded from the register to seek assessment and redress.
Mamedu said social protection should be regarded as responsibility of government rather than political favour or charity.
“With the 2027 general elections approaching, government must demonstrate that this intervention is driven strictly by vulnerability and need, not political considerations,” he said.
ActionAid also demanded transparency in selection of digital payment providers, disclosure of transaction and administrative costs, and independent verification of disbursements.
It urged government to publish periodic reports detailing number of households paid, total funds disbursed, geographical distribution, failed transactions and complaints resolved, while protecting beneficiaries’ personal information.
It outlined six demands, including publication of funding source, approved budget and timeline; clarification of whether N50,000 is one-off or monthly; disclosure of eligibility criteria and targets across states and LGAs; accessible grievance and inclusion mechanisms; third-party monitoring by credible CSOs; independent payment verification and safeguards against diversion and political interference.
It also urged citizens to monitor the intervention and report irregularities, exclusion and diversion to oversight institutions and civil society organisations.
Beyond immediate cash, ActionAid called for stronger pro-poor policies to tackle structural poverty, including investment in decent jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, food security, sustainable livelihoods and essential public services.
“The success of this intervention must be measured not by the amount announced, but by the number of vulnerable Nigerians who receive the support, the fairness of the selection process and the accountability with which public resources are managed,” the statement said.