The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on all 36 state governors in Nigeria to publicly disclose how they have utilized security vote funds since May 29, 2023. The group further urged these governors to allow anti-corruption agencies to scrutinize the expenditures to ensure accountability.
In a Freedom of Information request dated June 28, 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization emphasized the need for transparency in the disbursement of security votes. The request also invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to actively monitor and track the use of these funds.
Okay.ng reports that SERAP’s demand comes in the wake of the tragic Benue massacre and the persistent insecurity challenges affecting numerous Nigerian states. The group stated, “In the wake of the Benue massacre and well-documented ongoing cases of insecurity in several states, there is a legitimate public interest for governors to account for how they spend security votes.”
Highlighting the persistent failure of governors to translate billions of naira allocated as security votes into tangible security improvements, SERAP criticized this mismanagement. “Despite the billions of naira yearly budgeted as security votes, many governors are grossly failing to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the people in their states, contrary to section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution,” the group said.
SERAP warned that the secrecy surrounding the use of security votes has fostered corruption and weakened citizens’ ability to hold their leaders accountable. The organization further pointed out that recent Supreme Court rulings have clarified that governors cannot claim immunity from the Freedom of Information Act, reinforcing the public’s right to demand transparency.
“The Supreme Court has made clear that state governors can no longer hide under their unfounded claim that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them,” SERAP stated.
The group also threatened legal action if any governor fails to comply with the request within seven days, emphasizing the urgency of transparency in the management of public funds allocated for security.
Citing a World Bank report, SERAP noted that Nigeria remains classified as an economy grappling with fragile and conflict-affected situations. The ongoing insecurity, the group said, continues to exacerbate extreme poverty and deteriorate human development indicators across the country.
“The judgment sends a powerful message that state governors can no longer escape accountability for how they spend security votes. Disclosing details of spending public funds as security votes by your state would serve to engage the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the security problems in several states and what the governors are doing to respond to them,” SERAP concluded.
