SERAP Gives Governors 7-Day Ultimatum Over N2bn Subsidy Palliative

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to drag 36 state governors to court if they fail to disclose how the N2 billion palliative recently disbursed to them by the federal government were spent.

SERAP also asked the governors to make public the names of the beneficiaries and details of the reliefs so far provided with the money.

The civil society organisation made the demands in an open letter dated September 9, 2023 and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP letter follows reports that the federal government recently disbursed N2 billion out of the N5 billion palliative package for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT), to address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.

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The organisation maintained that Nigerians have the right to know how their states are spending the fuel subsidy relief funds because it is part of their legally enforceable human rights.

It further stated that transparency and accountability in the spending of the N2 billion and any subsequent disbursement to your state would help to reduce the risk of corruption, mismanagement, diversion, or opportunism.

SERAP also insisted that the oversight afforded by public access to the details of the spending of the N2 billion palliative and any subsequent disbursement would serve as an important check on the activities of your state and help to prevent abuses of the public trust.

It said the constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know details on spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative and that citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability that is in turn crucial for the country’s democratic order.

The civil society organisation stated that the Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including about how the N2 billion fuel subsidy relief funds are spent.

SERAP also submitted that the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, applicable throughout Nigeria, there are transparency obligations imposed on your state to publish details of spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative.

It stated, “the Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.

“Your state cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to your state to refuse to provide the details being sought, as your state also has clear legal obligations to provide the information as prescribed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and. Enforcement) Act.

“SERAP urges you to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly track and monitor the spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative and any subsequent disbursement of public funds to your state.”