Cash transfers: Why retirees earning below national minimum wage must not be left behind

The Federal Government’s announcement of the commencement of a N50,000 monthly cash transfer programme for vulnerable Nigerians under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is a welcome recognition of the economic hardship confronting millions of citizens. The initiative, announced on October 30, 2026, by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, is intended to provide financial relief to vulnerable households struggling with the rising cost of living.