SERAP Makes Demands From Tinubu Over Missing Funds In Humanitarian Affairs Ministry

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate the alleged theft of over ₦57 billion from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021, as detailed in the recently released audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

In a letter dated November 23, 2024, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP expressed concerns over the mismanagement of public funds, which it says also affects other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

The organization alleged that hundreds of billions of naira are unaccounted for across the federal government’s institutions.

The advocacy group emphasized that any individuals suspected of involvement in the alleged theft should face prosecution, provided there is sufficient evidence, and that any missing funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.

SERAP also urged the president to redirect any recovered funds to bridge the deficit in the 2025 budget and address Nigeria’s mounting debt crisis. It further recommended an immediate moratorium on government borrowing to ease the financial burden on the nation.

The letter read in part, “The allegations amount to stealing from the poor. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.

“Poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviations and other ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs.

“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, (the Ministry) in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021. The money was ‘not directly paid to the beneficiaries.

“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations.”