The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to account for the spending of Federal Account Allocation Committee allocations to states and the FCT since 2019.
It also asked them to provide and widely publish documents on the spending of FAAC allocations received by their states and the FCT since 1999.
The Federal Account Allocation Committee is responsible for reviewing and adopting the allocation of funds to states and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The requests followed reports that the committee disbursed N1.123 trillion to the federal, state, and local governments for March 2024 alone.
The breakdown showed states collected N398.689 billion.
SERAP’s request was contained in the Freedom of Information inquiry dated April 20, 2024, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
“Without this information, Nigerians cannot follow the actions of their states and the FCT, and they cannot properly fulfil their responsibilities as citizens.
“Trillions of FAAC allocations received by Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT have allegedly gone down the drain. The resulting human costs directly threaten the human rights of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians,” it said.
It added that publishing the documents would enable Nigerians to meaningfully engage in the implementation of projects executed with the FAAC allocations collected.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.
“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state and the FCT to comply with our requests in the public interest,” it added.
