SERAP Threatens Legal Action Against 36 State Governors Over N30 Billion Allocations
In a bold move, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a stern warning to Nigerian state governors, signaling its intent to pursue legal action regarding the N30 billion allocated to them to combat soaring food prices across the nation.
Demanding Transparency and Accountability SERAP asserts that accountability must be upheld, and the state governors must be answerable for the funds disbursed by the Federal Government specifically to address the mounting food crisis, distinct from their regular budget allocations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the civil society organization clarified its stance, emphasizing its intention to initiate legal proceedings against the state leaders to compel them to provide a detailed account of the funds, as revealed by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
“We’re suing Nigeria’s state governors to compel them to account for the N30 billion that Mr. Godswill Akpabio reportedly said each governor has received from the Federal Government [outside their normal allocations] to address the high cost of food in their states,” SERAP declared.
Federal Intervention Amidst Escalating Crisis Earlier on Wednesday, Senator Godswill Akpabio disclosed during a plenary session that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had disbursed an additional N30 billion to each of the 36 state governors to tackle the looming food scarcity crisis gripping the nation.
Akpabio stressed that these supplementary funds were allocated with the specific objective of alleviating the dire food shortages and cautioned against their misuse for purposes unrelated to addressing the crisis.
“We can see a lot of protests here and there, most of those sponsored protests are not aware of the kind of efforts being made by this Senate to tackle the situation together with a joint management team of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Akpabio stated.
The Senate, adamant about safeguarding Nigeria’s interests, pledged not to endorse any actions that deviate from the nation’s welfare.
Accountability and Governance Integrity SERAP’s impending legal action underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability in governance. As the nation grapples with economic challenges, ensuring that allocated funds are judiciously utilized to address pressing issues such as food scarcity is paramount.
The standoff between SERAP and the state governors highlights the importance of governance integrity and underscores the imperative of accountability in fostering public trust and confidence in Nigeria’s leadership.
Source: ireporteronline.com.ng
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