SERAP drags FG to ECOWAS court over N78.8bn cash transfer

SERAP, a group focused on socio-economic rights and accountability, has sued the Nigerian Federal Government at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice over the alleged misuse of N78.8bn allocated to cash-transfer and social-protection programmes. The allegations, detailed in the Auditor-General of the Federation's 2024 Annual Report, involve the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office.

SERAP is seeking a declaration that the government's failure to account for the funds violates Nigeria's international human rights obligations and is asking the court to order a comprehensive investigation, recovery of improperly spent funds, and strengthening of financial oversight of social-protection programmes. The lawsuit argues that the mismanagement of these funds undermines the rights of vulnerable Nigerians to social security and an adequate standard of living.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.