The landmark lawsuit targets the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government of Nigeria before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja over the alleged diversion, irregular expenditure, and failure to account for over ₦78.8 billion in public funds meant for vulnerable citizens.
The landmark lawsuit targets the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
In a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Sunday, SERAP confirmed that the suit, numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26, was filed last week.
The action follows damning revelations documented in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, published on August 7, 2026. According to the Auditor-General, the findings cover various periods between January 2023 and December 31, 2024.
SERAP is seeking a declaration that the failure of the Nigerian government to account for the over ₦78.8 billion in public funds allocated for federal cash-transfer and social-protection programmes is unlawful and a violation of Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
The organization is also asking the court for a declaration that the government’s failure to ensure the lawful administration of these funds, intended to benefit vulnerable households, undermines the enjoyment of the rights protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Furthermore, SERAP is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the government from administering or disbursing cash-transfer and social-protection funds without adequate financial accountability, beneficiary verification, auditing, and oversight mechanisms consistent with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
In its argument, SERAP asserted that the government has violated, and continues to violate, the rights to social security and an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, and housing, by failing to properly administer social-protection funds and ensure access to benefits intended to meet basic needs.
“The failure to account for substantial public funds allocated for social protection, and to investigate and remedy deficiencies, undermines the socio-economic rights of millions of affected Nigerians,” SERAP stated.
SaharaReporters gathered that the funds were originally intended to benefit over 3.2 million households across 35 states. The alleged mismanagement has severely affected the access of these vulnerable demographics to critical financial assistance.
SERAP stressed that the failure to investigate the ₦78.8 billion cash-transfer scandal, account for the questioned funds, and recover any unlawfully spent amounts constitutes a direct violation of Nigeria’s obligations to protect the human rights of vulnerable households.
