SERAP sues Nigerian govt at ECOWAS Court over ₦78.8bn cash transfer
SERAP is seeking a declaration that “the government’s failure to ensure the lawful administration of public funds allocated for cash-transfer programmes intended to benefit vulnerable households undermines the enjoyment…
SERAP, a Lagos-based civil society organisation, has in recent years positioned itself as one of Nigeria's most active litigants against government bodies over transparency and accountability lapses, frequently approaching both domestic courts and the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice when it believes local remedies are inadequate. The ECOWAS Court has jurisdiction to hear human rights complaints against member states, including Nigeria, and its rulings—while not always enforced—have previously drawn attention to government conduct on issues ranging from corruption to social welfare.
The cash-transfer programmes at the centre of this suit were designed to channel federal funds directly to poor and vulnerable households, part of a broader social investment push intended to cushion the impact of economic hardship. Questions over how such large sums were disbursed and accounted for have persisted, with coverage across outlets agreeing that SERAP is asking the court to establish accountability for the ₦78.8 billion in question, though details on the specific disbursement records, timelines, and any government response to the allegations have not yet been reported.