The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Federal Government to institute an investigation into alleged missing ₦57 billion in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021. SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare wants the FG to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe the allegations.
Oluwadare referenced the 2021 audited report released last week by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, stating that the allegations suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anticorruption legislation, and international anticorruption obligations.
Hundreds of billions of naira are also reportedly missing in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion [N54,630,000,000.00] meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021.
“The money was not directly paid to the beneficiaries. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have been diverted.”
“He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury and suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations”.
