RismadarVoice Reporters
November 8, 2026
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal Government to disclose details of the funding, beneficiary selection and payment arrangements for its ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
In a Freedom of Information request dated November 7, SERAP urged the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, to publish information on the programme’s budget, implementation and safeguards against corruption and political interference.
The request, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, followed the ministry’s October 30 announcement of financial assistance for vulnerable Nigerians facing rising living costs.
SERAP demanded details of funds allocated, released and spent, alongside the criteria used to identify and verify beneficiaries.
It also requested anonymised records showing the number of beneficiaries and amounts disbursed across states and local government areas.
The organisation questioned whether the ₦50,000 assistance would be paid monthly or as a one-off grant, noting inconsistencies between the ministry’s initial announcement and subsequent public guidance.
SERAP further sought disclosure of agreements with digital payment providers, including ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint, covering their responsibilities, charges and performance.
It raised concerns about reported cases of beneficiaries receiving payment notifications without being able to access their funds, urging the ministry to investigate and resolve such complaints.
The organisation also called for safeguards to prevent politicians or other individuals from influencing beneficiary selection or using the programme to secure electoral support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP maintained that access to publicly funded assistance should depend on genuine need rather than political affiliation.
It urged the government to involve the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in monitoring expenditure and investigating credible allegations of wrongdoing.
The organisation also requested information on measures protecting beneficiaries’ personal data and preventing unauthorised access to social welfare records.
Citing previous audit concerns involving federal social intervention programmes, SERAP argued that stronger financial controls and independent oversight were necessary.
It gave the ministry seven days to respond to its information request, warning that legal action could follow if the government failed to provide the requested disclosures.
The ministry has stated that NERSI beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified identity records, with payments processed through authorised financial service providers.
However, the total programme budget, complete beneficiary figures and detailed disbursement records remain central to SERAP’s transparency demands.
