Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given governors of the nine oil-producing states in the country to publish details of how they spent N625 billion oil derivation or face legal actions.
In its official Twitter handle of Sunday, SERAP writes ‘‘We’ve asked governors Okowa, Wike, and 7 other governors of oil producing states to widely publish details of spending of N625 billion derivation refunds received from the Buhari administration or face legal action.’’
In the open letter dated December 9, 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said “provide and widely publish details of spending of the oil derivation refunds of N625 billion recently paid to them by the federal government of Nigeria, including details and locations of projects executed with the money.”
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SERAP noted, “Disclosing the information would enable Nigerians to scrutinise the spending of the refunds. Publishing the details of the oil derivation refunds would also promote transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds.”
The letter, read in part, “Widely publishing details of the spending of the oil derivation refunds would ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for the performance of their duties in the management of public funds.
“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.
“The public interest in obtaining the information about expenditures relating to the oil derivation refunds outweighs any privacy or other interests. The oversight afforded by public access to such details would serve as an important check on the activities of your state and help to prevent abuses of the public trust.
“SERAP also urges you to disclose details of spending of the refunds to local government councils through the state accounts, and to explain the role played by your government in the spending of public funds meant for the councils.
“SERAP urges you to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to jointly track and monitor the spending of the oil derivation refunds by your state.
“SERAP also urges you to provide details of the transparency and accountability mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that the derivation refunds are not mismanaged, diverted or re-stolen.
“According to our information, under the 13 per cent derivation fund, Abia State received N4.8 billion; Akwa-Ibom received N128 billion; and Bayelsa got N92.2 billion. Cross River got a refund of N1.3 billion; Delta State received N110 billion; Edo State received N11.3billion; Imo State, N5.5 billion, Ondo State, N19.4 billion; and Rivers State received N103.6 billion.
“On the 13 per cent derivation fund on deductions made by NNPC, Abia State received N1.1 billion; Akwa-Ibom, N15 billion; Bayelsa, N11.6 billion; Cross River, N432 million; Delta State, N14.8 billion; Edo State, N2.2 billion; and Imo State, N2.9, billion. Ondo State, got N3.7 billion while N12.8 billion was paid to Rivers State.
“The nine states also received N4.7 billion each, totalling N42.34 billion as refunds on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P from 2009 to 2015. The Federation Account also paid N3.52 billion each as refund to local government councils on withdrawals for subsidy and the SURE-P from 2009 to 2015.”
