SERAP Sues Federal Government at ECOWAS Court Over ₦78.8bn Social Protection Funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice over alleged irregularities involving more than ₦78.8 billion earmarked for cash transfers and social protection programmes.

The organisation said the allegations involved the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).

SERAP said the concerns were raised in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, published on August 7, 2026, which examined issues covering different periods from January 2023 to December 31, 2024.

In its suit, numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26 and filed last week, the organisation is asking the court to rule that the government’s alleged failure to account for the funds violates Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

It is also seeking an order requiring the government to disclose a detailed and verifiable account of the questioned expenditure, including payment records, beneficiary information, verification documents and financial reconciliation records.

Among its other requests, SERAP wants an independent investigation into the alleged financial irregularities, the recovery of public funds found to have been improperly spent or diverted, and appropriate legal or administrative action against those found responsible, in accordance with due process.

According to SERAP’s account of the Auditor-General’s findings, about ₦33.751 billion was reportedly paid to more than 3.2 million households in 35 states in 2023. However, the report allegedly identified insufficient documentation to verify the payments and reconcile beneficiary records.

The organisation further cited ₦36.744 billion in payments allegedly made without prepayment audits and ₦4.616 billion in expenditure without adequate supporting documents.

Additional questioned transactions included ₦350.182 million allocated for enrolment, ₦89.511 million for store purchases and ₦17.422 million in diesel advances.

SERAP said the findings raised questions about financial management and whether the intended recipients received assistance meant to support vulnerable households.

The organisation argued that the government’s obligation to protect human rights also required proper oversight of public funds allocated to social protection initiatives.

It maintained that inadequate beneficiary verification, poor record-keeping, unreconciled payments, failure to investigate suspected irregularities and failure to recover misused funds could threaten the rights to social security and an adequate standard of living, including access to food, clothing and housing.

“The failure to investigate the ₦78.8 billion cash-transfer scandal, account for the questioned funds and recover any unlawfully spent amounts violates Nigeria’s obligations to protect the human rights of vulnerable households,” SERAP said in its court filing.

The group said the lawsuit was filed in the public interest to safeguard affected households and promote accountability in the use of public funds.

It warned that the alleged failures could have implications for millions of Nigerians who depend on cash-transfer programmes to meet essential needs, especially those living in poverty.

SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, filed the case on the organisation’s behalf under Article 9(4) of the ECOWAS Court Protocol.

The organisation disclosed that it had written to President Bola Tinubu and the relevant authorities on September 5, 2026, asking them to explain the questioned expenditure, release relevant audit records, investigate the allegations and recover any funds established to have been unlawfully spent or diverted.

It also sought access to payment and beneficiary records, verification documents and explanations concerning missing REMITA records.

SERAP said the deadline it gave the government to address the audit findings had passed without an adequate response.

The organisation is asking the court to require the government to improve financial accountability, auditing, beneficiary verification and oversight to prevent similar concerns in future social protection programmes.

It is also seeking safeguards to ensure that eligible vulnerable people and households receive the assistance intended for them and that any established harm to their rights is appropriately addressed.

In support of its case, SERAP cited the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, arguing that governments are required to protect public resources, maintain transparent financial management and investigate suspected misuse of public funds.

The court has yet to announce a hearing date.

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