ActionAid Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to provide detailed information on its proposed ₦50,000 cash support programme for poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The organisation expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the programme's funding, beneficiary selection process, and disbursement mechanisms. According to ActionAid, Nigerians deserve to know the source of funding, total amount committed to the programme, funds released, and measures in place to ensure the money reaches intended beneficiaries.
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) was announced by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, on October 30, 2026. ActionAid Nigeria's Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, called for the programme to be implemented transparently, equitably, and sustainably. Mamedu noted that providing ₦50,000 monthly to one million households would cost ₦50 billion, while five million households would require ₦250 billion monthly.
ActionAid raised concerns over the absence of a clearly disclosed programme budget, specific beneficiary targets, and implementation timeline. The organisation also urged the government to clarify conflicting information about the payment structure, noting that while the minister described the intervention as a monthly allowance, the official programme website listed it as a one-off grant.
On beneficiary selection, ActionAid said the government had reportedly indicated that recipients would be identified through the National Social Register and verified national identity records. However, the organisation raised concerns about when the register was last updated, the eligibility criteria, and how newly impoverished households would be captured. ActionAid called for priority to be given to the poorest and most marginalised Nigerians.
The organisation urged the government to establish accessible mechanisms through which eligible Nigerians excluded from the register could seek assessment and redress. ActionAid warned that access to social protection should not depend solely on possession of national identification documents, mobile phones, or bank accounts. Mamedu emphasised that social protection was a responsibility of government rather than a political favour or an act of charity.
ActionAid Nigeria also called for disclosure of the digital payment providers selected for the programme, administrative costs, and independent mechanisms for verifying disbursements. The organisation recommended periodic publication of information on the number of households paid, total funds disbursed, geographical distribution, failed transactions, and complaints resolved, while protecting beneficiaries' personal information.
Among its recommendations, ActionAid urged the Federal Government to publish the programme's funding sources, approved budget, and implementation timeline; clarify the duration and structure of payments; update the National Social Register; and establish effective grievance and inclusion mechanisms. The organisation stressed that the success of the intervention should be measured not by the amount announced but by the number of vulnerable Nigerians reached, fairness in beneficiary selection, and accountability in the management of public resources.
Key points
- ActionAid Nigeria calls for transparency in the Federal Government's ₦50,000 cash support programme.
- The organisation raises concerns over the programme's funding, beneficiary selection process, and disbursement mechanisms.
- ActionAid recommends periodic publication of information on programme implementation and independent mechanisms for verifying disbursements.
