SERAP urges Tinubu to investigate the N78.8tn cash transfer scandal

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct relevant agencies to account for over ₦78.8 billion in public funds it says were “misappropriated, unaccounted for or irregularly spent” under the Federal Government’s cash transfer program.

SERAP also urged Tinubu to direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Cash Assistance Office to “publish the complete records and audit trail of cash assistance worth ₦33.751 billion in 2023, including names of beneficiaries, payments, verification, authorization and reconciliation, and explain the failure to provide REMITA records to the Auditor General.”

The government urged him to direct the two MDAs “to account for payments of ₦36.744 billion made without audit of prepayments, unsupported expenditure of ₦4.616 billion, registration payments of ₦350.182 million, shop purchases of ₦89.511 million, and diesel advances of ₦17.422 million.”

The organization also urged the president “to direct appropriate anti-corruption agencies to immediately and thoroughly investigate questionable and unaccounted expenditures of ₦76.24 billion at the NCTO and ₦2.55 billion at the National Social Safety Net Coordination Office.”

SERAP made these demands in a letter dated September 5, 2026 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, according to a statement issued by the organization on Sunday.

The organization said the allegations were documented in the 2024 Annual Report of the Auditor General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026.

It said the report covers various periods between January and December 2023, ending on December 31, 2024.

“SERAP is deeply concerned by the Auditor General’s findings that the NCTO provided cash assistance of ₦33.751 billion to 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries in 35 states in 2023 without any evidence confirming receipt of the money by the beneficiaries.

“The Auditor General found that NCTO failed to provide REMITA statements necessary to authenticate payments and determine whether beneficiaries were genuine and eligible. The audit report also raised concerns about incomplete beneficiary information and frustration in the audit process,” the statement read.

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It added, “The Federal Government should reconcile payments with the National Social Register and the National Register of Beneficiaries and independently verify the identity and eligibility of beneficiaries, including identifying duplicate, fictitious, deceased, ineligible or irregular beneficiaries.

“According to the Auditor General’s report, NCTO paid ₦4.616 billion for various expenses without sufficient supporting documentation. The Auditor General is concerned that ‘the money may have been diverted.'”

According to SERAP, the audit report also found that NCTO paid ₦36.74 billion in December 2023 without prepayment or internal audit checks, ₦89.51 million for store items that were not delivered or entered into store ledgers, and ₦350.18 million to state coordinators for registration of unbanked beneficiaries without adequate documentation.

SERAP further cited the Auditor General’s findings regarding ₦17.42 million spent through advances to staff for diesel fuel, ₦280.42 million paid as mobilization and prepayment to payment service providers without guarantee of prepayment, and ₦393.71 million in unspent funds reportedly disbursed to nine states for beneficiary registration activities.

In NASSCO, SERAP cited alleged irregular payments including ₦2.24 billion through 158 vouchers without prepayment audits, ₦44.55 million for laptops that were not delivered or entered into store ledgers, ₦19.76 million for advertisements without proof of publication, and ₦141.01 million paid to two contractors for software without NITDA permission.

The organizations also cited payments involving the National Social Register, procurement of materials, insurance premiums and other expenses that they said lacked sufficient supporting documentation or proof of delivery.

SERAP said the findings revealed “repeated failures in basic financial and administrative controls,” including missing payment and procurement records, unverifiable payments for goods and services, inadequate documentation of beneficiaries, and unaccountable public funds.

They urged the government to publish a schedule showing the amount recovered, the date of recovery, the institutions responsible and the Treasury account into which the recovered funds were paid.

“We would be grateful if the recommended steps are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP will consider appropriate legal action and action including before the ECOWAS Court, and the Inspection Panel, World Bank Accountability Mechanism to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.

“There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these very serious allegations,” SERAP said.

This organization also urges the government to publish sufficiently detailed and anonymous information regarding cash assistance program beneficiaries, while maintaining personal data and privacy.