Subsidy Palliatives
EKO HOT BLOG reports that all the thirty-six state governors in Nigeria have been dragged to court over their failure to render accounts of the N72 billion so far released to them by the Federal Government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal in the country.
According to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which filed the lawsuit, the state governors have failed to account for the spending of the N72 billion palliative collected from the Federal Government, including details of the beneficiaries and the reliefs provided with the money.
The Federal Government recently disbursed N2 billion out of the N5 billion palliative package to each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT), to address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.
SERAP’s lawsuit, filed under suit number FHC/L/CS/1943/2023 in the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeks three key directives. Firstly, it demands “an order of mandamus” compelling each of the 36 state governors to account for the N2 billion palliative received from the Federal Government. Secondly, it seeks the disclosure of details regarding beneficiaries and relief provided to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians. Lastly, it calls for an order directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor the utilization of the fuel subsidy palliative.
SERAP contends that government secrecy contradicts democratic principles and erodes trust. They argue that the governors’ failure to account for public funds is both legally and morally unacceptable. Furthermore, SERAP asserts that transparency in government spending is essential for democracy, promoting accountability, and preventing corruption.
By taking this legal action, SERAP aims to ensure that citizens have access to information about how the N72 billion was utilized, fostering government transparency and enhancing democracy. They emphasize that Nigerians have a legally enforceable right to know how the relief funds are being spent and that such transparency is crucial in a democracy.
This lawsuit also draws upon existing legal frameworks, including the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and international human rights covenants, all of which emphasize transparency and citizens’ right to access information about government activities.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the outcome of this case will have significant implications for government transparency, accountability, and citizens’ right to access information in Nigeria. The date for the hearing of the suit has not yet been scheduled.
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