FALANA, SERAP SEEK PROBE INTO N33.75BN CASH TRANSFERS

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project have called for investigations into funds meant for cash transfers to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

Falana urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to work with the Auditor-General for the Federation to establish what happened to N33.75bn that was reportedly transferred to more than 3.29 million households across 35 states in 2023. The call followed findings in the Auditor-General’s 2024 report, which said the government could not provide sufficient evidence that the funds reached genuine beneficiaries.

Falana called for the recovery of the money if investigations establish that it was diverted and urged the prosecution of anyone found responsible.

SERAP also asked President Bola Tinubu to order a full investigation and direct relevant agencies to publish records showing beneficiaries, payments, verification and reconciliation of the funds. The organisation said the records should help determine whether the payments reached eligible beneficiaries and account for any missing or reversed transactions.

The groups also raised concerns about the management of Nigeria’s wider social investment programmes and called for stronger monitoring of future poverty-reduction funds.

The demands followed the Auditor-General’s concerns over gaps in documentation and internal controls surrounding the cash-transfer programme.