morgaNABLE News/Public Interest
Falana alleged that corruption and weak oversight had undermined the effectiveness of these programmes, citing previous scandals involving top officials
KaNo—
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project have called for a full-scale investigation into the alleged diversion and mismanagement of billions of naira meant for Nigeria’s social protection programmes.
Falana, who is also Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe the alleged disappearance of N33.75bn earmarked for cash transfers to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
His demand follows recent revelations by the Auditor-General for the Federation that the government could not provide sufficient evidence to confirm that the funds reached their intended beneficiaries.
The disclosure was contained in the 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses issued by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Chira.
According to the report, auditors were unable to verify the disbursement of N33.75bn to over 3.29 million households under the Federal Government’s cash transfer scheme.
Falana Demands Transparency
In a statement released on Sunday, Falana described the development as deeply troubling, warning that it raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability in programmes designed to alleviate poverty.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75bn,” Falana said.
“Furthermore, the EFCC should embark on an immediate investigation of the serious allegation of the criminal diversion of the sum of N33.75 billion in cash transfers earmarked for poor and vulnerable people in the country.”he added.
He added that any public officials found culpable should be arrested and prosecuted without delay, stressing that impunity in the management of social intervention funds could erode public trust and undermine efforts to combat poverty.
Falana noted that the National Social Investment Programme Agency was established under the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2022 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The law mandates the agency to design and implement social investment initiatives, maintain beneficiary databases, and ensure transparency in payments.
The programmes under the agency include N-Power, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the National Cash Transfer scheme, the National Social Safety-Net, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and the Grant for Vulnerable Groups.
Falana Says Corruption Undermining Program Effectiveness
However, Falana alleged that corruption and weak oversight had undermined the effectiveness of these programmes, citing previous scandals involving top officials.
He recalled that former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, was investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1bn.
He also referenced a Federal Capital Territory High Court arrest warrant issued in April 2026 against Farouq and a former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, for failing to appear in court.
Falana further pointed to the controversy surrounding another former minister, Betta Edu, who was suspended in January 2024 after a memo surfaced directing the transfer of N585m in public funds into a private account.
He urged the EFCC to conclude its investigations into these cases, noting that prolonged delays in prosecution could weaken accountability mechanisms.
“By now, the EFCC ought to have concluded its investigation into the scandal to enable Betta Edu and Halima Shehu to know their fate,” he said.
In response to earlier controversies, the Federal Government had introduced reforms aimed at tightening beneficiary verification processes.
These measures included linking beneficiaries’ profiles to their Bank Verification Numbers and National Identification Numbers to eliminate ghost recipients and enhance transparency.
He also raised concerns over a $3.05bn development package unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in July 2026, which is supported by the World Bank and aimed at reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunities.
Falana warned that without robust oversight, the new funds could be subjected to the same alleged mismanagement that plagued previous programmes.
He called on the government to establish an independent body comprising credible civil society organisations to oversee the disbursement of the funds.
“Instead of allowing public officers to feast on the huge funds for poverty reduction, the Federal Government should set up a body constituted by representatives of credible civil society organisations to disburse the $3.05bn package,” he said.
He further alleged that the World Bank might withdraw the funds if adequate safeguards were not put in place to prevent diversion.
SERAP Urges Investigation
Similarly, SERAP has intensified its advocacy for transparency by urging President Tinubu to order a comprehensive investigation into over N78.8bn in public funds allegedly diverted, unaccounted for, or irregularly spent under social protection programmes.
In a letter dated September 5, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation called on the President to direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office to account for the funds.
It said the records should include beneficiary names, payment details, verification processes, authorisations, and reconciliations.
The group also highlighted the failure of the National Cash Transfer Office to provide REMITA statements to auditors, describing it as a serious lapse in financial accountability.
“The failure to provide basic payment records and beneficiary information capable of establishing that public funds reached genuine beneficiaries undermines public confidence,” SERAP said.
“It creates a serious risk that funds intended for some of Nigeria’s poorest citizens may have been lost, misapplied, or paid to persons who were not entitled to receive them.”
The organisation stressed that transparency in social protection programmes is critical, particularly at a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship.
The controversy has renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s social investment framework, with stakeholders calling for stronger institutional safeguards to prevent fraud and ensure that interventions reach those most in need.
Analysts say the Auditor-General’s findings place a significant burden on anti-corruption agencies and relevant ministries to determine whether the discrepancies resulted from administrative lapses, systemic inefficiencies, or outright criminal diversion.
