Utibe Ekoson

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a presidential panel of enquiry to investigate spending on all social safety-nets and poverty alleviation programmes and projects executed between 2015 and 2022.

SERAP also urged him to ensure the findings of any such investigation are widely published and suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement of public funds meant to take care of the poor should face prosecution.

A recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that 130 million Nigerians are poor, despite the government reportedly spending 500 billion naira yearly on social investment programmes.

In the letter dated 19th November 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said the report suggests a grave violation of the public trust, and the lack of political will to genuinely address poverty and uphold government’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.

The body said it would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the publication of the letter, adding that SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel the government to comply in the interest of the public.

November 21, 2022

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