The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to publicize details N729 billion payments to 24.3 million Nigerians.
The authorities announced in January that more than 7 million poor citizens had benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
The CCT, which reopened in August, is a programme of the National Social Investment Program (NSIP).
SERAP now wants details on the mechanisms and logistics, as well as a list of beneficiaries, how they were chosen, and whether payments were/will be made in cash or via Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).
The organisation is also requesting that the government explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which amounts to 5% of the N13.6 trillion 2021 budget.
The action was taken in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request made by SERAP to Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
According to SERAP, disclosing the details of beneficiaries, selection criteria, and payment would promote accountability and eliminate the risk of fund diversion.
The FHC/L/CS/853/2021 suit seeks clarification on whether CCT payments are included in the N5.6 trillion budget deficit.
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