SERAP Sets To Investigate Delta State Government Over Funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP has won the legal right to investigate Delta State Governor Okowa and the Universal Basic Education Board UBEC, to explain how billions of naira meant for the progress of education between 2015 and 2019 in the state had been spent.

According to the body, they want the Delta State Government to give a detailed account of where the money was spent, the location of the schools built and the name of the beneficiaries of the funds given to them.

The body also said that their must be accountability for the massive funds received for primary school projects in the state.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, last week ruled that, “Going through the Application filed by SERAP, supported by a 13-paragraph affidavit, with supporting exhibits, statements setting out the facts…
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

The suit number FHC/L/CS/803/2019 filed last year followed the failure by Governor Okowa, UBEC, and SUBEB to explain how billions of naira of UBEC funds and from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee have been spent, & to disclose the locations of primary school projects.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

In the suit, SERAP is applying for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling Governor Okowa, UBEC, and SUBEB to widely publish details of disbursement and spending of UBEC funds in Delta State; locations of projects carried out…
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus directing & compelling Gov. Okowa, UBEC, & SUBEB to disclose details of actual spending to provide access to quality education for children with disabilities in Delta State, & names of schools that have benefited from any such spending
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

The government accessed over N3 billion of UBEC funds between 2015 and 2016, while it also reportedly approved the release of N1.28 billion counterpart funds to enable it access UBEC funds for 2017
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

Tens of thousands of Nigerian children are being left behind in Delta state and their futures put in jeopardy. These children are being short-changed and they deserve to know how much exactly have the state government and UBEC spent between 2015 and 2019, on their education
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

The refusal by the governor, UBEC and SUBEB to respond to SERAP’s Freedom of Information requests can only be construed to mean denial of the information sought. We shouldn’t have to ask for the information on spending of public funds in the state.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

The governor, UBEC and SUBEB have nothing to lose if the information is released to SERAP and members of the public. It is in the interest of justice that the information be released.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

The information is needed to verify and establish the truth about the spending of public funds on education by the government, for the purposes of transparency and accountability.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

Access to information held by public authorities is a fundamental element of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and vital to the proper functioning of any democratic system.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020

Providing the requested information will also allow the citizens to track the level of execution of education projects in the state
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) November 15, 2020