The Federal Government has explained how Nigerians are selected for its ₦50,000 cash relief programme, amid growing questions over eligibility and the criteria for receiving the money.
According to the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), beneficiaries are drawn from two major databases: verified national identity records and the National Social Register (NSR).
Information published on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction’s NERSI website, sighted by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, shows that the government screens the records to identify poor and vulnerable households.
The National Identification Number (NIN), issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), is used to verify beneficiaries’ identities and link them to the mobile wallets through which the money is paid.
The second requirement is inclusion in the National Social Register, a database of poor and vulnerable households coordinated by the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
NASSCO says the register contains information on more than 70 million Nigerians.
The registration process begins with states identifying their poorest local government areas and communities. Trained teams then work with residents and community leaders to identify vulnerable households.
The households are subsequently registered digitally and assessed using poverty indicators.
Those ranked within the bottom six deciles may qualify for inclusion in the National Beneficiary Register, which is used for government intervention programmes, including cash transfers.
NERSI identifies enrolment with both NIMC and the National Social Register as a prerequisite for consideration under the ₦50,000 relief scheme.
However, the government has not disclosed the precise screening formula or detailed criteria used to determine which registered Nigerians eventually receive the money.
It has also warned Nigerians against paying agents or attempting to apply for inclusion, insisting that beneficiaries are selected through existing government records.
“You cannot apply or pay to be added. Not everyone is in the first group. Your data is used only for this programme,” the NERSI website states.
The intervention, known as the Humanitarian Assistance Programme, is designed as a shock-responsive cash transfer scheme to support poor and vulnerable households facing economic difficulties.
Under the programme, selected beneficiaries receive ₦50,000 through mobile wallets, with the government stressing that the money is a grant and does not have to be repaid.
“Under NERSI, selected beneficiaries receive support of ₦50,000 into a mobile wallet. It is a grant from the Federal Government. You do not pay it back,” the website explains.
The government says selection is based on need and covers all six geopolitical zones, without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
Payments are also being made in batches, meaning beneficiaries will not receive notifications or payments at the same time.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of disbursement in a statement on October 30.
Meanwhile, Nigerians can check whether they have been selected through the approved payment providers by dialling the following USSD codes:
ALAT by Wema: “94523#”
- MoMo PSB: “*6710#”
- NairaGram: “*72600#”
- OPay: “95520#”
- Moniepoint: “557327#”
The government has urged Nigerians to rely on approved channels and avoid fraudsters demanding money in exchange for access to the relief fund.
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