ActionAid Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to publish the funding arrangements, eligibility rules and payment procedures for its proposed ₦50,000 cash assistance programme for vulnerable households.
In a statement attributed to country director Andrew Mamedu, the organization said cash support could ease immediate hardship but warned that unclear budgets and beneficiary selection procedures could undermine public confidence.
ActionAid pointed to what it described as inconsistent information about the National Emergency Relief and Stabilization Intervention. It said the programme had been described by an official as a monthly payment, while information on its website suggested a single grant.
The group called for clarification of the payment frequency, total budget, target population, start date, administrative costs and sources of financing. It noted that supporting one million households at ₦50,000 each would cost ₦50 billion per payment cycle, rising to ₦250 billion for five million households.
ActionAid also raised questions about reliance on the National Social Register and identity verification, warning that recently impoverished households, displaced people, older persons and those without bank accounts or digital access could be excluded.
It proposed accessible complaints and appeals channels, independent payment verification and regular public reporting on beneficiaries, geographic distribution, failed transfers and resolved grievances, while protecting personal information.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the organization urged authorities to demonstrate that the programme would be administered according to need rather than political affiliation.
ActionAid also called for longer term measures addressing employment, healthcare, education, food security and basic services, arguing that the success of the intervention should be measured by actual support received rather than the amount announced.
