The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Court over its failure to account for more than N78.8bn allocated to cash transfers and social protection programmes for vulnerable Nigerians.
In a suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26, the organisation is asking the regional court to compel the government to explain how the money was spent, investigate alleged financial irregularities and recover any funds found to have been misappropriated.
SERAP’s action followed findings in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 annual report, published on August 7, 2026, which flagged several questionable transactions involving federal agencies responsible for social protection programmes between January 2023 and December 2024.
Among the major concerns is N33.751bn reportedly transferred to 3,295,207 households across 35 states in 2023 without adequate records to authenticate and reconcile the payments.
Another N36.744bn was allegedly disbursed without prepayment audits, while N4.616bn in expenditure reportedly lacked supporting documents.
The audit also raised questions over N350.182m in enrolment payments, N89.511m in store purchases, N17.422m in diesel advances and approximately N2.553bn in expenditure involving the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
SERAP said the findings raised serious questions about whether the funds reached their intended beneficiaries and whether adequate financial safeguards were observed.
The organisation, however, stressed that the audit queries did not establish that the entire N78.8bn was stolen or that all beneficiaries were denied their payments.
It wants the government to produce payment records, beneficiary details, verification documents and other evidence showing how the money was utilised.
SERAP is also asking the court to order an independent investigation, recover any funds established to have been improperly spent and sanction individuals found responsible, in accordance with due process.
The organisation argued that poor accountability in welfare programmes could undermine the rights of vulnerable Nigerians to social security and an adequate standard of living.
It said the government’s responsibility went beyond announcing cash-transfer schemes and allocating funds, insisting that authorities must ensure the money gets to the intended recipients.
SERAP said it had earlier written to President Bola Tinubu and relevant authorities on September 5, 2026, demanding explanations and investigations into the audit findings.
However, it claimed that the government had failed to take sufficient action, prompting the legal challenge.
Among other reliefs, the organisation wants the ECOWAS Court to compel the government to strengthen financial controls, publish information on investigations and recoveries, and ensure eligible households are not deprived of assistance through financial mismanagement.
It is also seeking an injunction preventing the government from disbursing social protection funds without adequate accountability and oversight mechanisms.
The hearing date has yet to be fixed.
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