Fuel: 36 govs get 7-day ultimatum on N2bn palliative spending

Fuel: 36 govs get 7-day ultimatum  on N2bn palliative spending

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the 36 state governors a seven-day ultimatum to “disclose details on spending of the N2 billion palliative recently disbursed” to them by the Federal Government.

The money is meant to procure food items and mass transit buses to cushion effects of fuel subsidy removal on the people.

The group also asked the state governments to name beneficiaries of the funds and details of the reliefs so far provided with the money.

According to reports, the Federal Government recently disbursed N2 billion out of the N5 billion palliative package for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT), to address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.

In the open letter dated September 9, 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “It is in the public interest to publish the details on spending of the N2 billion palliative and any subsequent disbursement of funds to your government.”

SERAP said, “Nigerians have the right to know how their states are spending the fuel subsidy relief funds. It is part of their legally enforceable human rights.”

According to the group, “transparency and accountability in the spending of the N2 billion and any subsequent disbursement to your state would help to reduce the risk of corruption, mismanagement, diversion, or opportunism.”

It also stated, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.

“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state to comply with our request in the public interest.”