By Seyi Odewale
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a strong call to Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Federal Capital Territory to account for and publicly disclose details of the estimated N14 trillion in fuel subsidy savings received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) since mid-2023, or face legal action.
In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the governors and the FCT Minister must “immediately publish comprehensive reports on how the funds have been utilised,” including details of projects executed, their locations, cost, implementation status, and beneficiaries.
“The savings from the removal of fuel subsidy were meant to cushion the hardship faced by millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians. Instead, many states have failed to deliver any meaningful improvements in healthcare, education, or social welfare,” Oluwadare said.
“This secrecy and mismanagement of public funds is unacceptable and violates both the Nigerian Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act.”
SERAP emphasised that transparency in the management of public funds is a binding constitutional and legal duty, not a favour to the people.
“The Supreme Court has ruled clearly that the Freedom of Information Act applies across the federation. State governors and the FCT Minister can no longer hide under false claims that the law does not bind them,” the statement read.
The organisation cited Sections 13, 15(5), and 16(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as the UN Convention Against Corruption, stressing that public officials must act in the best interest of citizens and ensure full accountability for all funds received.
SERAP gave the governors and the FCT seven days from the receipt or publication of its letter to disclose the total amounts received from FAAC as subsidy savings, publish details of projects financed with the funds, including their locations and completion status, and outline plans for the utilisation of future subsidy savings.
“Failure to act within seven days will compel us to pursue appropriate legal actions to enforce transparency and compel compliance,” Oluwadare warned.
He added that SERAP expects each state and the FCT to invite the ICPC and EFCC to independently track and monitor the expenditure of the funds to ensure they are not diverted into private pockets.
SERAP lamented that, despite increased allocations, many states still owe salaries and pensions, while public infrastructure remains in a state of decay.
“It is morally indefensible for public officials to collect huge FAAC allocations while ordinary Nigerians suffer worsening poverty and hunger,” Oluwadare stated.
“Transparency in the spending of subsidy savings will ensure that the poor do not suffer the double tragedy of paying the price of subsidy removal and being denied the benefits of the savings.”
