The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice over alleged financial irregularities involving more than ₦78.8 billion allocated to federal cash-transfer and social-protection programmes.
The suit concerns funds administered through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
SERAP said its action is based on findings contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, published in August 2026.
According to the organisation, the Auditor-General questioned about ₦33.751 billion reportedly transferred to more than 3.2 million households across 35 states in 2023, citing inadequate records to verify payments and reconcile beneficiary information.
The audit also raised questions over ₦36.744 billion in payments allegedly made without prepayment audits, as well as ₦4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures and other questioned payments.
In the suit, SERAP is asking the ECOWAS Court to compel the Federal Government to provide comprehensive and verifiable records of the questioned funds, including payment, beneficiary, verification and reconciliation documents.
The organisation is also seeking an order directing the government to investigate the alleged irregularities, recover any funds found to have been improperly spent or lost, and take appropriate action against anyone found responsible in accordance with due process.
SERAP further wants the government to strengthen financial accountability, auditing, beneficiary verification and oversight mechanisms for cash-transfer and social-protection programmes.
The organisation argued that failures in the administration of funds intended for vulnerable households could affect access to social protection and other basic socio-economic rights.
The allegations have not been established by the court, and no judgment has yet been delivered in the case. No date has been fixed for the hearing.
The case is now before the ECOWAS Court, where the issues raised by SERAP and the government’s response will be considered.