The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is calling for a thorough probe into whether public funds from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have been used to pay for the education of Government officials’ children.
SERAP demands transparency in publishing the investigation’s findings, and seeks reimbursement from schools involved, with interest.
This demand comes amid a case involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who allegedly paid over $845,000 in varied installments to an Abuja school as tuition.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating this payment for potential money laundering, leading to the school refunding a significant sum to the agency.
SERAP wrote on Friday in a series of tweets on X:
“We urge EFCC and ICPC to probe the accounts of Nigeria’s 36 states and FCT to trace if public funds are being used to pay school fees for the children of public officers and to publish the findings. The schools involved should be made to return the money with interest.
“Kogi state is among the 27 states that have failed to access N54.9bn Universal Basic Education fund that would ensure access to quality education for poor children. The state could not access N1.3 billion because it failed to pay the equivalent amount of the grant.
“Nigeria’s state governors/FCT minister who FAILED to pay UBEC fund for the education of poor children in their states/FCT:
*Abia failed to access N4.2 billion
*Adamawa failed to access N1.2 billion
*Akwa Ibom failed to access N1.3 billion
*Anambra failed to access N2.6 billion
*Bauchi failed to access N1.3 billion
*Bayelsa failed to access N1.3 billion
*Ebonyi failed to access N2.6 billion
*Edo failed to access N2.6 billion
*Ekiti failed to access N1.3 billion
*FCT failed to access N1.3 billion
*Imo failed to access N3.5 billion
*Gombe failed to access N1.3 billion
*Kaduna failed to access N1.3 billion
*Kano failed to access N581 million
*Katsina failed to access N1.3 billion
*Kwara failed to access NN2.6 billion
*Kebbi failed to access N1.3 billion
*Kogi failed to access N1.3 billion
*Lagos failed to access N1.3 billion
*Niger failed to access N2.6 billion
*Ogun failed to access N4.2 billion
*Osun failed to access N1.3 billion
*Oyo failed to access N2.6 billion
*Plateau failed to access N1.3 billion
*Rivers failed to access N697 million
*Yobe failed to access N1.3 billion
“Many of Nigeria’s state governors are allegedly diverting public funds into private pockets including to pay for the school fees and other expenses for their own children while they deny poor children access to quality education.
“Nigeria deserves better than this,” SERAP said.