NewStats: 3,261,373 , 8,173,818 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 03:41 AM 3y6k23

Socio-Economic Rights and ability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to “widely publish copies of the loan agreements and spending details of some N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT, including details and locations of projects executed with the loans.”

SERAP also urged them to “promptly invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (IC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the spending of the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT.”

SERAP’s request followed the disclosure last week by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State that the immediate past istration of Nasir El-Rufai left $587m, N85bn debt and 115 contractual labilities, making it impossible for the state to pay salaries.

In the Freedom of Information requests dated 30 March 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “It is in the public interest to publish copies of the loan agreements and details of how the loans obtained are spent.”

SERAP said, “Nigerians have the right to know how their states are spending the domestic and external loans obtained by the governors.”

SERAP said, “Widely publishing copies of the loan agreements and spending details of the loans obtained would ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for the performance of their duties in the management of public funds.”

The FoI requests, read in part: “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.”

“SERAP is seriously concerned that many of the country’s 36 states and FCT are allegedly mismanaging public funds which may include domestic and external loans obtained from bilateral and multilateral institutions and agencies.”

“Transparency in the spending of the loans obtained by your state is fundamental to increase ability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions with the ultimate aim of strengthening the rule of law.”

“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is N5.9 trillion. The total public external debt portfolio is $4.6 billion.”

“Many states and the FCT reportedly owe civil servants’ salaries and pensions. Several states are borrowing to pay salaries. Millions of Nigerians resident in your state and the FCT continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services such as quality education and healthcare.”

“Several states including your state are also reportedly spending public funds which may include the domestic and external loans to fund unnecessary travels, buy exotic and bulletproof cars and generally fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians.”

“SERAP is seriously concerned that the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT are vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement. Your government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and ability in how any loans obtained by your state are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.”

“Publishing copies of the loan agreements obtained by your state and the FCT would allow Nigerians to scrutinise them, and promote transparency and ability on the spending of public funds including the loans obtained.”

“SERAP believes that providing and widely publishing the details of the spending of the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT would enable Nigerians to effectively and meaningfully engage in the management of the loans.”

“SERAP believes that the constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know the details of loan agreements and how the loans obtained are spent. Citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and ability that is in turn crucial for the country’s democratic order.”

“The effective operation of representative democracy depends on the people being able to scrutinize, discuss and contribute to government decision making, including on the spending of loans obtained by your state and the FCT.”

“To do this, they need information to enable them to participate more effectively in the management of public funds by their state government and the FCT.”

“The public interest in obtaining information about expenditures relating to the loans obtained by your state outweighs any privacy or other interest. Moreover, 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 is concerned that there is a significant risk of mismanagement or diversion of funds linked to loans obtained by state governments including your state. The s of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT are generally not open to public scrutiny.”

“Your state has obligations under international anticorruption and human rights law, including a responsibility to promote transparency and ability in the management of public funds, prevent mismanagement or diversion of public funds, and redress any abuse of public trust.”

“The Nigerian Constitution, human rights and anticorruption treaties to which Nigeria is a state party also impose obligations on your state to prevent mismanagement or diversion of public funds including the loans obtained.”

“SERAP is seriously concerned that years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds including the loans obtained by states have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services.”

“Opacity in the spending of loans obtained by states has continued to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens and the public interest.”

“Transparency would ensure that these loans are not diverted into private pockets, and increase public trust that these loans are used and any future loans would be used to benefit Nigerians resident in your state.

“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including about the loan agreements and how the loans obtained are spent.”

“Your state cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to your state to refuse to provide the details being sought, as your state also has clear legal obligations to provide the information as prescribed by provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and. Enforcement) Act.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/03/serap-gives-36-govs-wike-7-days-to-publish-loan-agreements--for-n5-9trn-4-6bn-loans/

The liar and unserious governor of abia state, will soon claim abia state did not receive any money.

Serap is one of the unnecessary organisations in Nigeria, the only thing they are good at is dishing out ultimatum which will result to nothing at the end of the day

The fuel subsidy removal has shored up revenue generation leading to increase in federal allocations to each state according to recent statistics but it is worrisome that states are still being plunged into heavy debts in spite of the bogus monthly allocations.It is a big shame to hear from Uba Sani that he is struggling to pay workers' salaries while even many contractors that are being owed are waiting to be paid.When it was apparent that he was about to lose 2023 governorship election Uba Sani was weeping and sobbing heavily like a baby but it is shocking today that El-Rufai that paved way for him by rigging is being blamed by the incompetent Sani.

COMRADES as long as corruption is the mainstay in the APC's controlled government headed by the the drug pusher himself, SERAP should just forget it

Good one Serap

yarimo:
The liar and unserious governor of abia state, will soon claim abia state did not receive any money.

U are useless to yourself and ur generation

,

Let us wait and see

Adeyinka12:
Good one Serap

Which yeye serap🤣🤣
All the sue dem sue buhar, how far?

yarimo:
The liar and unserious governor of abia state, will soon claim abia state did not receive any money.

Gibberish! Why are you so obsessed with Otti?

Ok

Be like this serap uselèss, make dem go find another work
Nigeria corruption big them, even the president na corruption himself

Upon the 2000 times wey dem sue former President Buhari, dem never see him arrest

Melagros:

Gibberish! Why are you so obsessed with Otti?

otti is a disgrace to good governernce

yarimo:
The liar and unserious governor of abia state, will soon claim abia state did not receive any money.

More tears please. It is very interesting 😂😂😂

SERAP joke's on you

States like Niger, Lagos, Ekiti, Abia, Oyo, Anambra including Fct we dey hear wetin dem dey use money do

But the rest ehnn, e be like na landlords dem be

36 State Governor excluding or including Abia state governor.
Alex Otti Keep deceiving your Ibo people as long as you can play your Tribal joker card on your Ibo brother ...you will chop bellefull ...Your people.hate APC and PDP and Yoruba people as they hated Hausa Fulani people in 2015 ...till 2023
Alex Otti , You can go and knack your Neighbours wife for free as long as you tell your people say nah Tinubu cause ...they will believe you ....and you will go scot free .
Hating Yoruba people is one of the lucrative business strategy in the east ...If you doubt me, ask Nnmadi Kanu ....he used this strategy to.make.lots of.money for himself . Simeon Ekpa also has learnt the foot step of his master and he is also rich .
Iwuwayanwyu also learn this strategy, and he is using it to get money .

Turn down the heat
Its too much for our outgoing "his Excellency"

🤣😂🤣🤣 This Spineless SERAP what will they do if they don’t for it? Will they beat them? 😂

Na statistics we go chop..

How many ultimatums has SERAP given in their lifetime and how many responses?

NGO must chop,

Any single court case since all these ultimatums started ?

Fraudulent Organization

SERAP should just SHARAP!

Benue has nothing to fear.

In Alia we trust.

Lol Serap should shut up

Melagros:
COMRADES as long as corruption is the mainstay in the APC's controlled government headed by the the drug pusher himself, SERAP should just forget it

Did SERAP bite under any regime?

nlfpmod:


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/03/serap-gives-36-govs-wike-7-days-to-publish-loan-agreements--for-n5-9trn-4-6bn-loans/

Obiano should come and explain what he did with over 100 million dollars whilst he was Anambra state governor

Else what, like all this unnecessary noise just to show u still exist