The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has formally requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) launch an immediate investigation into the management of the federal government’s ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI). This call for oversight follows the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction’s October 30 announcement regarding the rollout of the financial aid package aimed at supporting vulnerable citizens.
In a direct appeal to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, the advocacy group is demanding comprehensive transparency regarding the financial operations of the scheme. SERAP has insisted on the disclosure of specific budgetary allocations, the total volume of funds released to date, and a detailed breakdown of all expenditures associated with the programme. The organization maintains that the Nigerian public deserves full visibility into the deployment of these resources, including how beneficiaries are vetted and whether the assistance is effectively reaching the nation’s most impoverished households.
Beyond basic financial transparency, the group is seeking clarity on the operational structure of the intervention. Specifically, it has requested the Minister to clarify whether the ₦50,000 disbursement is a one-time relief payment or part of a recurring monthly assistance programme. Furthermore, SERAP is pushing for the publication of the criteria used for selecting recipients, the mechanisms employed for verification, the geographical reach of the distribution, and the details of all contracts awarded to digital financial service providers involved in the payment process.
The call for the EFCC and ICPC to monitor the programme is aimed at ensuring accountability and preempting potential mismanagement. SERAP has expressed significant concern that the initiative could be hijacked for partisan gains, particularly with the 2027 general elections on the horizon. The organization issued a stern warning against leveraging the relief funds as a tool for political patronage, emphasizing that the aid must be distributed strictly on the basis of genuine socioeconomic need rather than political affiliation or loyalty.
In its statement, the group underscored that the intervention must remain free from political coercion. It cautioned against any practices that might compel recipients to attend political rallies, declare support for specific candidates, or display party materials in exchange for access to the funds. Asserting that the programme is funded by public tax revenues rather than the personal largesse of political figures, the organization reaffirmed that any attempt to use the NERSI funds to advance individual or party interests would be a flagrant betrayal of public trust.