FG’s ₦50,000 grant: Can POS agents deduct money? What beneficiaries should know about charges

Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme have been advised to understand the difference between deductions from their grant and legitimate withdrawal charges when accessing money through Point of Sale (POS) agents.

The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) provides financial assistance to selected vulnerable Nigerians through mobile wallets operated by authorised payment providers.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction says beneficiaries are entitled to receive the full ₦50,000 without deductions.

However, the ministry also acknowledges that POS agents may charge their normal fees when beneficiaries choose to withdraw cash.

The distinction is important for recipients who may be unfamiliar with digital wallet transactions.

According to the official NERSI FAQ, each selected beneficiary receives ₦50,000.

The ministry says the full amount is credited to the beneficiary’s wallet without deductions.

It also states that accepting the grant and receiving the payment are free.

This means beneficiaries are not required to pay a processing fee, registration charge or release fee to receive the assistance.

Anyone demanding such a payment is acting outside the official programme.

Yes, ordinary withdrawal charges may apply.

The ministry explains that a POS agent may charge the usual fee associated with cash withdrawal.

It advises beneficiaries to ask about the fee before completing the transaction.

This means the government can credit the full ₦50,000 to a beneficiary’s wallet while the beneficiary separately incurs a charge for withdrawing cash through an agent.

The two transactions should not be confused.

A legitimate withdrawal fee is different from an unauthorised deduction from the government grant.

The official NERSI FAQ does not prescribe a universal POS withdrawal fee for every beneficiary.

Actual charges may depend on the payment provider, agent and applicable transaction arrangements.

Beneficiaries should therefore confirm the fee before transferring money to an agent.

They should also check the amount they are sending and the amount of cash they expect to receive.

If the charge is unclear or unacceptable, they may consider another authorised withdrawal option.

The ministry says recipients can withdraw all or part of their grant.

Any remaining balance stays in the mobile wallet.

For example, a beneficiary who receives ₦50,000 may decide to withdraw ₦20,000 and retain the remaining amount for future transactions.

However, applicable transaction charges may affect the amount ultimately available for spending.

Beneficiaries should check their balances after every transaction.

The official programme website says beneficiaries can transfer their funds to a bank account through the designated provider’s USSD service or application.

This means a beneficiary does not necessarily need to withdraw the entire grant through a POS agent.

The available options depend on the payment provider.

ALAT beneficiaries may use Wema Bank services, while MoMo, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint beneficiaries can follow their respective transfer instructions.

The first step is to confirm that the full ₦50,000 has been credited.

Beneficiaries should then check the applicable transaction fee before withdrawing or transferring money.

They should never pay an agent who claims to have special authority to release the grant.

The government says no one can sell access to NERSI or accelerate a beneficiary’s payment in exchange for money.

Recipients should also protect their banking credentials.

A POS agent may assist with a transaction, but the beneficiary should personally enter any required PIN.

Beneficiaries should first review the transaction details.

They should establish whether the deduction was an ordinary disclosed withdrawal charge or an unauthorised payment.

If the amount cannot be explained, they should contact their payment provider and report the transaction.

They should retain any available transaction reference or receipt.

For general programme enquiries, the ministry provides the NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.

The main point is that the Federal Government promises the full ₦50,000 grant without deductions, but beneficiaries may still encounter separately disclosed charges when using certain withdrawal services.