SERAP to Governors: Account for FAAC Allocations or Face Lawsuit

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked  Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to account for how they spent  the allocations to them by Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) since 2019.

The group also asked them to provide and widely publish documents on the spending of FAAC allocations received by their states and the FCT since 1999.
FAAC 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.

SERAP’s request was contained in the Freedom of Information (FoI) 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.
The group stated 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,” the statement stressed

Part of the FoI request by SERAP said: “Secrecy in the spending of FAAC allocations received by your state and the FCT is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.

“Secrecy in the spending of FAAC allocations received by your state and the FCT also denies Nigerians the right to know how public funds are spent. Transparency in the spending would allow them to retain control over their government.
“The documents should include the evidence and list of specific projects completed with the FAAC allocations collected, the locations of any such projects, and completion reports of the projects.

“The documents should also include details of the salaries and pensions paid from the FAAC allocations collected, as well as the details of projects executed on hospitals and schools with the FAAC allocations.
“Despite the increased FAAC allocations to states and FCT, millions of residents in your state and the FCT continue to face extreme poverty and lack access to basic public goods and services.”