Nigeria social welfare funds face investigation over missing billions

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have called for urgent investigations into massive discrepancies in Nigeria’s social welfare funds. The calls follow a 2024 Annual Report by the Auditor-General for the Federation, which highlighted significant failures in accounting for public funds intended for vulnerable citizens.

Falana urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and recover N33.75 billion in cash transfers meant for over 3.29 million households under the National Social Investment Programme. He noted that the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) has previously faced allegations of financial impropriety.

Separately, SERAP has petitioned President Bola Tinubu to demand accountability for over N78.8 billion in reportedly diverted or irregularly spent funds. This includes N33.751 billion in 2023 cash transfers, N36.744 billion in payments made without prepayment audits, and N4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures. SERAP is requesting the full publication of audit trails, including beneficiary names and verification records, to ensure any misappropriated funds are recovered and suspects are prosecuted.