Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately account for and return the local government funds they have collected over the years.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization praised the Supreme Court’s ruling as a significant step towards addressing the mismanagement of trillions of naira in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations meant for local governments.
“We applaud the Supreme Court for this groundbreaking decision which will end the persistent alleged misappropriation of trillions of naira in public funds meant for local governments,” SERAP stated.
The organization emphasized that the ruling sets a clear legal precedent for holding governors and the FCT minister accountable for the local government funds they have collected and used.
The statement by SERAP continued: “Implicit in the Supreme Court judgment is the requirement for the governors and FCT minister to immediately account for and return the funds meant for local governments but retained and used or allegedly misused by them.”
SERAP argued that accounting for these funds and returning them would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.
SERAP further urged the National Assembly to amend Section 162 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended) to ensure that local government allocations from the Federation Account are paid directly to local government areas, bypassing the governors and the FCT minister.
This amendment, SERAP believes, would prevent future misappropriation of local government funds.
In a strong stance, SERAP threatened to take legal action against governors and the FCT minister if they fail to account for and return the funds meant for local governments within seven days.
“If the governors and FCT minister fail to account for and return the funds meant for local governments in their states and FCT within seven days, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel them to comply with our requests in the public interest,” the statement warned.
According to reports, the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory have collected over N40 trillion in federal allocations meant for the 774 local government areas.
SERAP’s call for accountability and the Supreme Court’s ruling aim to ensure these funds are used appropriately for the development and welfare of local communities across the country.
