The Federal Government has provided details on how beneficiaries are chosen for its N50,000 cash relief under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI). The explanation comes as disbursements continue and many Nigerians seek clarity on how recipients are identified and deemed eligible.
Selection Begins With Verified Identity and Social Register Data
According to information published on the NERSI website of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, beneficiaries are drawn from verified national identity records and the National Social Register. These individuals are then screened so that support reaches poor and vulnerable households.
The National Identification Number (NIN), issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) after enrolment, is used to confirm an individual’s identity. It is also linked to the mobile wallet through which selected beneficiaries receive the relief.
The National Social Register (NSR), meanwhile, is a database of poor and vulnerable households in Nigeria coordinated by the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO). According to NASSCO, the register holds data on more than 70 million individuals.
How Households Enter the National Social Register
Registering vulnerable persons is a multi-stage process. It begins with states identifying their poorest local government areas and communities. Trained teams then work with residents and community leaders to identify vulnerable households, which are registered digitally and assessed using poverty indicators. Households ranked within the bottom six deciles may qualify for inclusion in the National Beneficiary Register, the database used for programmes such as cash transfers.
Enrolment with both NIMC and the NSR is a prerequisite for selection for the N50,000 relief, according to NERSI. The office, however, does not disclose further details on the specific screening criteria used to determine recipients.
No Application or Payment Required
The ministry stresses that Nigerians cannot apply or pay to be included in the beneficiary list. As the website states, individuals cannot apply or pay to be added, not everyone is in the first group, and personal data is used only for this programme.
The Humanitarian Assistance Programme is described as the Federal Government’s shock-responsive cash transfer initiative for poor and vulnerable households, delivering financial support through mobile wallets. Under NERSI, selected beneficiaries receive ₦50,000 in a mobile wallet. The sum is a grant from the Federal Government and does not need to be repaid.
Selection is based on need and covers all six geopolitical zones, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. Payments are made in phases, so beneficiaries are not contacted at the same time.
Disbursement and How to Check Status
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of disbursement in a statement on October 30.
Nigerians can check whether they have been selected through approved providers by dialling the relevant USSD codes: ALAT by Wema (94523#), MoMo PSB (6710#), NairaGram (72600#), OPay (95520#) and Moniepoint (557327#).
