SERAP Gives FG Seven Days To Disclose ₦50,000 Relief Fund Beneficiaries, Payments

Daud  Olatunji

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Federal Government seven days to disclose details of the ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), including its funding, beneficiaries, payment arrangements and safeguards against corruption and political interference.

The organisation also demanded a breakdown of beneficiaries across states and local government areas, insisting that Nigerians have the right to know how public funds allocated to the intervention are being spent and whether the assistance is reaching the intended vulnerable households.

SERAP made the demands in a Freedom of Information request dated November 7, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro.

The request followed the ministry’s October 30 announcement of the NERSI programme, which is designed to provide ₦50,000 in financial assistance to vulnerable Nigerians.

However, SERAP said critical details about the intervention remained unclear, particularly its total funding, geographical coverage, duration, beneficiary selection process and the frequency of payments.

The organisation noted that while the ministry’s initial statement described the assistance as a monthly payment, its subsequent frequently asked questions document failed to clearly establish how frequently beneficiaries would receive the money and for how long.

It therefore urged the minister to publish details of budgetary allocations, funds released and expended, eligibility requirements, beneficiary verification procedures and the methodology used to select recipients from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.

SERAP also demanded the total number of beneficiaries selected and verified, broken down by state and local government area and, where available, by ward.

The organisation further called for the disclosure of agreements with digital financial service providers engaged to administer the payments, including ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.

It specifically requested information on the roles, contractual terms, fees and performance of the companies involved in the disbursement process.

Expressing concern over reported payment difficulties, SERAP said some Nigerians who received notifications of the ₦50,000 assistance had reportedly been unable to access or withdraw the money, while others received messages indicating that they were ineligible.

It urged the ministry to investigate the complaints, publish its findings and establish an effective mechanism for resolving failed transactions, disputed payments and wrongful exclusions.

The organisation also called on the minister to publicly invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor the programme’s implementation and expenditure.

It said the anti-graft agencies should independently verify payments, investigate allegations of corruption and help ensure that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries.

SERAP warned that the intervention must not become a tool for political patronage, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

According to the organisation, beneficiary selection and payments must be based strictly on genuine economic need and objective eligibility criteria rather than political affiliation or loyalty.

It stressed that beneficiaries must not be required or encouraged to attend political rallies, support political parties or candidates, display political materials or demonstrate political allegiance as a condition for receiving the assistance.

“NERSI is a government programme funded with public resources, not a personal gift or political benefit from any office-holder or political party,” the organisation stated.

SERAP further demanded that the ministry disclose any records of political actors’ involvement in beneficiary selection, access to beneficiary databases, payment arrangements and the use of public resources to promote the intervention.