The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive investigation into alleged diversion, unaccounted-for and irregular expenditure of over #78.8 billion under the Federal Government’s cash transfer programme.
SERAP, in a letter dated September 5, 2026, urged the President to direct relevant government agencies and anti-corruption bodies to account for the funds and ensure those responsible for any wrongdoing are held accountable.
The organisation specifically asked the President to direct the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the National Cash Transfer Office to publish complete records and audit trails relating to #33.751 billion disbursed for cash transfers in 2023.
According to SERAP, the records should include details of beneficiaries, payments, verification processes, authorisations and reconciliations, as well as an explanation for the alleged failure to provide REMITA records requested by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The rights group also demanded accountability for ₦36.744 billion allegedly paid without prepayment audit, ₦4.616 billion in unsupported expenditure, ₦350.182 million spent on beneficiary enrolment, ₦89.511 million for store purchases and ₦17.422 million reportedly advanced for diesel expenses.
SERAP further urged the President to direct anti-corruption agencies to investigate ₦76.24 billion in alleged questionable and unaccounted-for expenditure at the National Cash Transfer Office and another ₦2.55 billion linked to the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office.
The organisation said its demands were based on findings contained in the 2024 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026.
According to SERAP, the audit report raised concerns over ₦33.751 billion reportedly transferred to more than 3.2 million households and beneficiaries across 35 states in 2023 without sufficient evidence confirming that the intended beneficiaries received the funds.
The organisation said the Auditor-General also noted that the National Cash Transfer Office failed to provide REMITA statements required to authenticate the payments and verify the identity and eligibility of beneficiaries.
SERAP called on the Federal Government to reconcile all payments with the National Social Register and National Beneficiary Register and independently verify beneficiaries to identify possible duplicate, fictitious, deceased or otherwise ineligible recipients.
The group also cited alleged irregularities involving billions of naira spent without adequate documentation, internal audit checks or evidence of delivery of goods and services.
Among the issues raised were payments for items allegedly not delivered, enrolment activities without sufficient documentation, cash advances to staff, mobilisation payments to service providers and funds reportedly left unutilised in several states.
SERAP also referenced alleged questionable transactions at the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, including payments for laptops, advertisements, software and other services without sufficient supporting documentation or evidence of delivery.
The organisation said the audit findings pointed to repeated failures in financial and administrative controls within agencies responsible for implementing the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes.
It urged the government to publish details of any funds recovered, including the amounts, dates of recovery, institutions responsible and Treasury accounts where recovered funds were deposited.
SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to take the recommended measures, warning that it could pursue legal action if the allegations were not adequately addressed.
The organisation said possible legal action could include approaching the ECOWAS Court and other relevant accountability mechanisms.
SERAP maintained that Nigerians have a legitimate interest in knowing how public funds allocated to poverty alleviation and cash transfer programmes were spent.
It also urged the Federal Government to release sufficiently detailed but anonymised information about beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme while protecting their personal data and privacy.
