The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has described the plan by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to share the $322 million (N115 Billion) loot recovered from late Gen. Sani Abacha to an estimated 300,000 households, as “mis-targeted” and of no tangible benefit to the beneficiaries.
The 300,000 households are to receive $14 (N5,000) on a monthly basis. SERAP stated that it is the legal obligation of the authorities under the UN Convention of which Nigeria is a signatory.
In a statement by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Timothy Adewale, he said, “Rather than spending the loot to fund the National Social Safety Net Program (NAASP), President Buhari should, within the framework of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), create a central recovery account/trust funds, with oversight mechanisms”.
He said this would ensure that repatriated funds are transparently and accountably spent on tangible projects that would grant access, for those living in poverty, to essential public services such as water, education and health.
Distributing N5,000 to households would neither improve the socio-economic conditions of beneficiaries nor achieve the enduring value of a more transparent and robust system to manage recovered loot.
The group said that the return of the loot was an opportunity for President Buhari to enforce the 2016 judgement by Justice Mohammed Idris, which ordered the disclosure of the spending of recovered loot since 1999 by past and present governments till date, as well as the details of projects on which the funds were spent, and to vigorously push the National Assembly to pass the Proceeds of Crime Bill.
SERAP asked that NAASP should source for funds elsewhere, while it urged President Buhari to do the right thing with the loot as this will prove and truly demonstrate to Nigerians his oft-repeated commitment to fighting corruption.
Photo Credit: ThisDay Live
