The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, to disclose details of the funding, administration and implementation of the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
The organisation made the demand in a Freedom of Information request dated November 7, 2026, published on Sunday, November 8, calling for independent oversight of the programme amid concerns over financial accountability and possible political interference ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP wants the ministry to disclose the programme’s budget, funds released and expended, beneficiary selection criteria, verification procedures and geographical distribution of recipients. It also seeks clarification on the duration of the monthly payments and details of contracts with the digital financial service providers handling disbursements.
The intervention was announced on October 30, 2026, as a Federal Government initiative to support vulnerable Nigerians, with eligible beneficiaries expected to receive ₦50,000 monthly through licensed payment platforms.
The five providers identified by the ministry are ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
SERAP also urged Doro to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor the programme, investigate allegations of corruption and ensure that payments reach intended beneficiaries.
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It called for an investigation into complaints from individuals who reportedly received payment notifications but could not access the funds, as well as those declared ineligible.
The organisation warned against using the intervention for political patronage, insisting that eligibility must be determined by economic need rather than political affiliation. It said beneficiaries must not be pressured to attend rallies, endorse candidates or display party materials in exchange for assistance.
The demand comes against the backdrop of accountability concerns surrounding previous federal cash transfer programmes. The Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 annual report questioned documentation for ₦33.751 billion reportedly transferred to 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries across 35 states in 2023, citing incomplete payment records and missing documents needed to verify receipt.
Earlier, in January 2024, President Bola Tinubu suspended programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) amid allegations of financial impropriety and operational lapses. The affected schemes included N-Power, the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.
SERAP said the concerns surrounding earlier interventions underscored the need for transparent records and independent monitoring of NERSI.
It gave Doro seven days to provide the requested information, warning that it could seek legal redress under the Freedom of Information Act if the ministry failed to comply.