From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ACCORD), has questioned the Federal Government’s newly introduced ₦50,000 monthly cash assistance scheme for vulnerable Nigerians, insisting that direct financial support cannot replace sustainable economic policies, job creation and improved living conditions.
The party said although the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, could provide temporary relief to struggling households, the government must address the underlying factors responsible for widespread poverty and economic hardship.
The Federal Government had announced the initiative through the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, who said qualified beneficiaries would receive ₦50,000 monthly to cushion the effects of rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential commodities.
Doro explained that the programme would be periodically reviewed in line with prevailing economic conditions, while payments would be facilitated through licensed digital financial service providers to ensure transparency and security.
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He added that beneficiaries would receive text messages requesting their consent before payments were made into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
The minister also warned Nigerians against fraudsters, stressing that participation in the programme would not require payment, fresh registration or the services of agents.
However, ACCORD Kwara State Organising Secretary, Mallam Yusuph Funsho Kabir, said the intervention raised questions about the government’s long-term economic strategy, particularly as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, unemployment, insecurity, high transportation costs, expensive electricity and declining purchasing power.
Kabir questioned whether the monthly payment would provide lasting relief or merely offer temporary assistance without addressing the structural problems confronting the economy.
“Is ₦50,000 the solution to the suffering of Nigerians, or another temporary political arrangement designed to win public sympathy ahead of another four years?” he asked.
He maintained that Nigeria needed a productive economy capable of creating sustainable employment, supporting businesses and empowering citizens to become economically independent rather than depending continuously on government handouts.
According to him, government priorities should include job creation, affordable food, stable electricity, agricultural development, quality education, accessible healthcare, support for small businesses and industrial growth.
The ACCORD chieftain also called for transparency in the implementation of the cash-support scheme, demanding clear information on the criteria for selecting beneficiaries, funding arrangements, payment schedules, duration of the intervention and monitoring mechanisms.
He urged the Federal Government to ensure that the programme reached genuinely vulnerable Nigerians without political interference or manipulation.
While acknowledging the importance of providing immediate assistance to disadvantaged households, Kabir warned against presenting cash transfers as evidence of meaningful economic transformation.
“ACCORD is not against supporting vulnerable Nigerians. We are against a system that allows poverty to continue while presenting temporary handouts as a substitute for good governance,” he said.
He stressed that the success of any administration should be measured by improvements in citizens’ living conditions, access to economic opportunities, security and the government’s ability to deliver sustainable development.
Kabir further urged Nigerians to look beyond political announcements and demand accountability, insisting that the country needed leadership capable of moving citizens from economic hardship to prosperity.
He said the next four years should not become another cycle of unfulfilled promises and economic disappointment, adding that Nigerians deserved decent jobs, affordable food, reliable electricity, quality education, security and responsible leadership.
The party maintained that while the Federal Government’s intervention could complement existing social protection programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda, sustainable poverty reduction would require policies that strengthen institutions, stimulate production and expand economic opportunities.
