The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has asked the Federal Government to provide details of the funding, beneficiary selection and disbursement arrangements for its proposed N50,000 cash support programme for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
The organisation on Sunday in a statement signed by the Country Director of AAN, Andrew Mamedu, said the government must clarify whether the intervention under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention was a one-off grant or a monthly payment, warning that conflicting information about the scheme could create confusion among prospective beneficiaries.
He was reacting to the announcement by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, on October 30, 2026 on the intervention.
Mamedu said although direct cash assistance could provide immediate relief to households facing economic hardship, the government must ensure transparency, fairness and accountability in its implementation.
He said, “The Federal Government has a responsibility to explain whether the intervention is funded through existing budgetary allocations, supplementary appropriations, savings from economic reforms, development financing or other sources.
“Nigerians deserve to know the total amount committed to the programme, how much has been released and what mechanisms have been established to ensure that every naira reaches its intended beneficiary.”
The organisation expressed concern over the absence of a clearly disclosed programme budget, beneficiary targets and implementation timeline.
It said supporting one million households with N50,000 monthly would require N50bn, while five million households would need N250bn monthly.
The ActionAid boss said the figures underscored the need for transparent budgeting, legislative oversight and regular public reporting.
He also faulted what it described as conflicting information about the payment structure, noting that while the minister reportedly described the intervention as a monthly payment, the programme’s official website identified it as a one-off grant.
The organisation called for clarification on the duration of the intervention and how frequently beneficiaries would receive the money.
On beneficiary selection, Mamedu said the government had indicated that recipients would be identified through the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
He, however, raised concerns about when the register was last updated, the criteria for selecting beneficiaries and how newly impoverished households would be accommodated.
He urged the government to prioritise women-headed households, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, older persons and vulnerable rural communities.
The organisation also called for accessible channels through which eligible Nigerians excluded from the register could seek assessment and redress.
Mamedu said, “Social protection is not a political favour or an act of charity; it is a responsibility of government to its citizens.
“Nigerians deserve to know who is receiving this money, how beneficiaries are selected and whether the support is reaching those who need it most. With the 2027 general elections approaching, government must demonstrate that this intervention is driven strictly by vulnerability and need, not political considerations.”
ActionAid further urged the government to disclose the process for selecting digital payment providers, administrative costs and arrangements for independently verifying disbursements.
It recommended periodic publication of reports showing the number of households paid, funds disbursed, geographical distribution, failed transactions and complaints resolved.
The organisation also called for independent monitoring by credible civil society organisations to track implementation and identify possible irregularities.
It urged Nigerians to demand accountability and report cases of exclusion, diversion of funds and other discrepancies to relevant oversight institutions and civil society groups.
Beyond the cash intervention, ActionAid called for stronger poverty reduction policies, including investments in decent jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, food security and sustainable livelihoods.
It said the success of the programme should be measured by the number of vulnerable Nigerians reached, fairness in beneficiary selection and accountability in the management of public funds.
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