SERAP Demands Probe Into Alleged ₦78.8bn Cash Transfer Irregularities

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an urgent investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving more than ₦78.8 billion under the Federal Government’s cash transfer programmes.

SERAP made the demand in a letter dated September 5, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The organisation urged the President to direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to account for funds allegedly diverted, unaccounted for or irregularly spent.

According to SERAP, the allegations were contained in the 2024 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026. The audit findings covered activities carried out between January and December 2023, with some matters extending to December 31, 2024.

SERAP specifically asked the government to publish complete records and audit trails for the ₦33.751 billion reportedly transferred to beneficiaries in 2023.

The organisation said the records should include beneficiary details, payments made, verification procedures, authorisations and reconciliation documents. It also demanded an explanation for the failure to provide REMITA records requested by the Auditor-General.

The group further cited ₦36.744 billion in payments allegedly made without prepayment audits, ₦4.616 billion in expenditures without adequate supporting documents, ₦350.182 million reportedly spent on enrolment activities, ₦89.511 million in store purchases and ₦17.422 million in diesel advances.

SERAP called for relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged ₦76.24 billion in questionable and unaccounted-for expenditures at the NCTO and another ₦2.55 billion involving NASSCO.

It also urged the authorities to recover and return to the Treasury any public funds found to have been improperly spent, diverted or lost.

The organisation said anyone found culpable should face appropriate sanctions and prosecution if sufficient evidence is established, regardless of their position or institutional affiliation.

SERAP said the Auditor-General had raised concerns about the NCTO’s handling of ₦33.751 billion in cash transfers made to 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries across 35 states in 2023.

The organisation noted that the NCTO allegedly failed to provide REMITA statements that could authenticate the payments and establish whether the listed beneficiaries were genuine and eligible.

It therefore called for the payments to be reconciled with the National Social Register and National Beneficiary Register, alongside independent verification to identify duplicate, fictitious, deceased, ineligible or otherwise irregular beneficiaries.

The group also highlighted several other findings attributed to the Auditor-General, including ₦280.42 million reportedly paid as mobilisation and advance payments to payment service providers without advance payment guarantees.

SERAP said the audit report also identified ₦393.71 million in unutilised funds distributed to nine states for beneficiary enrolment activities, with no sufficient evidence that the money was returned to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Regarding NASSCO, SERAP cited alleged payments of ₦2.24 billion through 158 vouchers without prepayment audits, ₦44.55 million for laptops that were reportedly not delivered or entered into the store ledger, and ₦19.76 million for advertisements without evidence of publication.

The organisation also raised concerns over payments relating to software, National Social Register reconciliation and validation activities, procurement of materials and insurance premiums.

SERAP said the findings pointed to repeated weaknesses in financial controls, including missing records, inadequate documentation, questionable procurement practices and payments for goods and services that could not be verified.

It stressed that transparency was particularly important because the funds were intended to support poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

The organisation also demanded that the government publish state-by-state information on beneficiaries, amounts disbursed, payment dates, failed and reversed transactions, funds returned to the Treasury and administrative costs associated with the programme.

It called for a mechanism through which beneficiaries who did not receive payments could lodge complaints, while also urging authorities to investigate cases where individuals’ identities or bank accounts may have been used without their knowledge.

SERAP further asked the government to publish an updated register of cash-transfer beneficiaries, subject to appropriate safeguards protecting the personal information and privacy of vulnerable Nigerians.

The organisation gave the government seven days from the receipt or publication of its letter to act on its demands.

It warned that failure to respond could lead to legal action, including proceedings before the ECOWAS Court and the World Bank’s Accountability Mechanism.

SERAP said investigating the allegations and ensuring accountability were matters of significant public interest, particularly given the role of the cash-transfer programme in providing assistance to millions of vulnerable Nigerians.

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