SERAP Urges Tinubu: Probe ₦78.8bn Cash Transfer Funds Diversion

• SERAP has urged President Bola Tinubu to investigate over ₦78.8 billion in alleged diverted or irregularly spent public funds within the Federal Government’s cash transfer programme.
• The demand is based on findings from the Auditor-General of the Federation's 2024 Annual Report, which detailed numerous financial discrepancies at the National Cash Transfer Office and National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office.
• Key irregularities include ₦33.751 billion in cash transfers without proof of beneficiary receipt and ₦4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures, raising concerns about potential diversion.
• SERAP is calling for the publication of full records, including beneficiary names, and a comprehensive reconciliation of payments to ensure transparency and accountability.
• The organization also seeks investigations into significant sums paid without prepayment audits, for undelivered items, and without adequate documentation across various aspects of the program.

This development signals heightened scrutiny and potential anti-corruption investigations into Nigeria's social intervention programs, particularly the cash transfer scheme.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has formally appealed to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to initiate a thorough investigation into the alleged diversion, unaccounted expenditures, or irregular spending of over ₦78.8 billion within the Federal Government’s cash transfer programme. This significant sum, according to SERAP, warrants immediate scrutiny to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.

In a letter dated September 5, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP specifically requested President Tinubu to direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, alongside the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), to publicly release comprehensive records and audit trails. These records should cover the ₦33.751 billion in cash transfers made in 2023, detailing beneficiary names, payment specifics, verification processes, authorisations, and reconciliation efforts. Furthermore, SERAP demanded an explanation for the failure to provide crucial REMITA records to the Auditor-General of the Federation.

SERAP's call for action extends to several other questionable financial transactions. The organization highlighted ₦36.744 billion in payments made without a prepayment audit, ₦4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures, ₦350.182 million allocated for enrolment payments, ₦89.511 million for store purchases, and ₦17.422 million advanced for diesel. The human rights group also pressed for anti-corruption agencies to investigate ₦76.24 billion in questionable and unaccounted-for expenditures at the NCTO, as well as ₦2.55 billion at the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), signaling a broad concern over Nigeria cash transfer funds audit irregularities.

The basis for SERAP's urgent appeal stems directly from the 2024 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was officially published on August 7, 2026. This critical report, covering various periods between January and December 2023, concluding on December 31, 2024, meticulously documented a series of financial discrepancies and procedural lapses within the cash transfer scheme, underscoring the need for a comprehensive Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs probe.

Among the most concerning findings, the Auditor-General's report revealed that the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) disbursed ₦33.751 billion to 3,295,207 households across 35 states in 2023 without adequate evidence confirming that beneficiaries actually received the funds. The report further noted the NCTO's failure to provide essential REMITA statements, which are crucial for authenticating payments and verifying the eligibility and genuineness of recipients. Concerns were also raised regarding incomplete beneficiary information and instances where the audit process itself was reportedly frustrated.

The audit report detailed additional significant irregularities, including ₦4.616 billion in expenditures by the NCTO that lacked proper supporting documentation, leading the Auditor-General to express concern that these funds might have been diverted. Other issues included ₦36.74 billion in payments made in December 2023 without necessary prepayment or internal audit checks, ₦89.51 million for store items that were neither delivered nor recorded in the store ledger, and ₦350.18 million paid to state coordinators for the enrolment of unbanked beneficiaries without sufficient documentation. Furthermore, the report cited ₦17.42 million spent through cash advances for diesel, ₦280.42 million paid as mobilisation and advance payments to service providers without advance payment guarantees, and ₦393.71 million in unutilised funds reportedly disbursed to nine states for beneficiary enrolment activities. At NASSCO, irregularities included ₦2.24 billion paid via 158 vouchers without prepayment audit, ₦44.55 million for undelivered laptops, ₦19.76 million for advertisements lacking publication evidence, and ₦141.01 million paid to two contractors for software, all pointing to widespread National Cash Transfer Office irregularities.

SERAP's demand for a probe into the ₦78.8bn cash transfer underscores a growing call for enhanced accountability in the management of Nigeria's social intervention programs. The organization insists that the Federal Government must reconcile all payments against the National Social Register and the National Beneficiary Register. This reconciliation is vital for independently verifying the identity and eligibility of beneficiaries, a crucial step to identify any duplicate, fictitious, deceased, ineligible, or otherwise irregular recipients.

This development signals heightened scrutiny and potential anti-corruption investigations into Nigeria's social intervention programs, particularly the cash transfer scheme. The allegations of Nigeria public funds diversion, as highlighted by the Auditor-General's 2024 report, necessitate a robust response from the government. SERAP's advocacy aims to ensure that public resources intended for vulnerable citizens are not siphoned off or mismanaged, reinforcing the importance of transparent governance and financial integrity.

The call for President Tinubu to direct appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly investigate these findings reflects a broader commitment to combating corruption. Such investigations are critical not only to recover potentially misappropriated funds but also to restore public trust in government initiatives designed to alleviate poverty. The emphasis on publishing full records, including beneficiary names, is a key measure to foster transparency and prevent future irregularities, setting a precedent for how public funds are managed.

This development signals heightened scrutiny and potential anti-corruption investigations into Nigeria's social intervention programs, particularly the cash transfer scheme. Lawyers advising entities involved in public contracts or government-funded initiatives should review compliance frameworks to mitigate risks associated with financial irregularities and ensure robust accountability measures are in place, anticipating increased enforcement actions.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH