By Quazeem Halimot Bukola
The Federal Government has explained the selection process for beneficiaries of its ₦50,000 cash relief programme under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), amid growing interest among Nigerians seeking to understand the eligibility requirements.
According to information published on the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention website of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, beneficiaries are selected from verified national identity records and the National Social Register (NSR).
The clarification, obtained by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, stated that the selection process involves screening registered individuals to identify poor and vulnerable households across the country.
The website explained that the National Identification Number (NIN), issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), is used to verify beneficiaries’ identities and linked to the mobile wallets through which approved recipients receive their payments.
It also identified the National Social Register as a database containing information on poor and vulnerable households in Nigeria, coordinated by the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
According to NASSCO, the register contains information on more than 70 million individuals.
The registration process begins with state authorities identifying their poorest local government areas and communities. Trained registration teams subsequently work with residents and community leaders to identify vulnerable households.
The identified households are digitally registered and assessed using established poverty indicators.
Those ranked within the bottom six deciles may qualify for inclusion in the National Beneficiary Register, which serves as a database for government intervention programmes, including cash transfers.
NERSI stated that enrolment with both NIMC and the National Social Register was a prerequisite for consideration under the ₦50,000 relief programme.
However, the agency did not provide further details on the specific screening criteria used to determine the final list of beneficiaries.
It also warned Nigerians against paying anyone or attempting to apply independently for inclusion in the programme, stressing that beneficiaries are selected through existing government databases.
The website stated that not all eligible individuals would be included in the first phase, as payments were being made in batches.
It further explained that the Humanitarian Assistance Programme was designed as a shock-responsive cash transfer initiative to provide financial support to poor and vulnerable households through mobile wallets.
Under the intervention, selected beneficiaries receive ₦50,000 as a Federal Government grant, which does not require repayment.
The government also maintained that the selection process was based on economic need and covered all six geopolitical zones, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of disbursements in a statement issued on October 30.
How to Check for Beneficiary Selection
Nigerians can check whether they have been selected through the approved payment providers by dialling the following USSD codes:
• ALAT by Wema: *945*23#
• MoMo PSB: *671*0#
• NairaGram: *726*00#
• OPay: *955*20#
• Moniepoint: *5573*27#
The government urged Nigerians to rely on official communication channels for information about the programme and avoid individuals demanding payments in exchange for beneficiary registration or approval.
