NEWS
SERAP Sues Tinubu On Failure To Account For Govt Loans
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to court for failing to publicly tender ‘spending details of the loans obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.’
Biztellers reports that the suit named the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Debt Management Office (DMO), as defendants.
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/353/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the loan agreements obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.”
The SERAP is also asking the court to “direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the spending details of any such loans, including the interests and other payments so far made on the loans.”
In the suit, the SERAP is arguing that, “No one should be able to pull curtains of secrecy around decisions on the spending of public funds which can be revealed without injury to the public interest. Democracy requires accountability and accountability requires transparency.”
The SERAP is also arguing that “The Tinubu government should make it possible for citizens to have access to the agreements and spending details to judge whether their government is working for them or not.”
According to the SERAP, “The information may help to explain why, despite several billions of dollars in loans obtained by successive governments, millions of Nigerians continue to face extreme poverty and lack access to basic public goods and services.”
The SERAP is arguing that, “Nigerians’ right to a democratic governance allows them to appreciably influence the direction of government, and have an opportunity to assess progress and assign blame.”
The SERAP is also arguing that, “The accountability of government to the general public is a hallmark of democratic governance, which Nigeria seeks to achieve.”
The suit filed on behalf of the SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “Publishing the loan agreements would improve public accountability in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).”
“Nigerians are entitled to information about what their government is doing in their name. This is part of their right to information.”
“Publishing the agreements and spending details would allow the public to see how and on what these governments spent the loans and foster transparency and accountability.”
“Publishing the loan agreements signed by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and widely publishing the agreements would allow Nigerians to scrutinise it and to demand accountability for the spending of the loans.”
“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s is N97.3 trillion ($108 billion). The Federal Government’s debt is N87.3 trillion ($97 billion).”
“Nigeria paid $6.2 billion in 2019 as interest on loans while the country paid $6.5 as interest in 2018. Nigeria also paid $5 billion as interest on loans in 2017 while the country paid $4.4 billion as interest in 2016. For 2015, the interest paid on loans was $5.5 billion.”
“Substantial parts of the loans obtained by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 may have been mismanaged, diverted or stolen, and in any case remain unaccounted for.”
“Persons with public responsibilities ought to be answerable to the people for the performance of their duties including the management of the loans obtained between May 1999 and May 2023.”
“The Tinubu government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by the Federal Government are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.”
“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including to copies of the loan agreements obtained by successive governments since 1999.”
“By the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, there are transparency obligations imposed on the Tinubu government to widely publish the agreements and details of the projects on which the loans were spent.”
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
The European Union (EU) on Saturday advised airlines to avoid the Lebanese and Israeli airspace for the next month due to escalating air strikes and rocket fire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The European Commission, alongside the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), issued a warning about the “overall intensification of air strikes and degradation in the security situation.”
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The advisory recommends airlines “not to operate within the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels” until at least October 31, although this date could change depending on the situation.
The alert, part of a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB), may be “reviewed earlier and adapted or withdrawn” if the situation stabilizes.
“EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation,” the agency said, noting that any future updates would depend on how the conflict evolves.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been rising, with Israeli bombardment of southern Beirut on Friday reaching its highest intensity since the 2006 war between the two sides.
Israel claimed responsibility for an airstrike that allegedly killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, while the Iran-backed group retaliated with rocket fire aimed at a kibbutz and military targets in northern Israel.
With the security situation rapidly deteriorating, European authorities are focusing on ensuring the safety of airline operators and passengers flying in the region.
In a significant move to advance the establishment of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), President Bola Tinubu has submitted the names of the first Governing Board members to the Senate for confirmation.
This development was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy.
The move comes after President Tinubu signed the North West Development Commission Bill into law on July 24, solidifying efforts to establish the commission.
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The NWDC is expected to drive economic growth and social development across the North West region.
According to the statement, Ambassador Haruna Ginsau from Jigawa has been nominated as Chairman, while Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji from Kano is the pick for Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO).
The other nominated board members are:
Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe (Sokoto), Hon. Aminu Suleiman (Kebbi), Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara), Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman (Kaduna), Hon. Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil (Kano), Shamsu Sule (Katsina), Nasidi Ali (Jigawa)
The statement highlighted the expectation that these individuals will bring their extensive experience to support the Commission’s objectives of fostering growth and development in the region.
President Tinubu’s administration further reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the NWDC’s mission to deliver long-term development and economic empowerment for the North West.
The Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has raised serious concerns regarding a staggering debt of over N15 billion owed to its members by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
This alarming revelation was made by AHUON President Abdullateef Ekundayo in a statement released on Saturday in Abuja.
Ekundayo explained that it is customary for the Saudi government to issue refunds to participating countries after each Hajj season based on three specific criteria: services paid for but not rendered, services that were poorly delivered, and security deposits for tents.
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He emphasized that NAHCON owes its members refunds related to these categories from the 2022 Hajj operations to the present.
The AHUON President disclosed that NAHCON confirmed receiving 20 million Saudi Riyals in refunds from Saudi authorities as early as December 2023.
However, he criticized the commission for failing to formally notify the operators about this refund or discuss payment modalities.
“If not for the EFCC’s investigation into the commission, we wouldn’t have known about this payment,” he said, expressing frustration at the lack of communication.
Further complicating matters, Ekundayo highlighted that during the recently concluded 2024 Hajj operations, NAHCON received and retained over N2.7 billion in caution deposits from tour operators.
According to their agreement, these funds were to be released two weeks after the Hajj’s conclusion, but NAHCON has not refunded any of the companies that applied for it.
Instead, they have reportedly requested additional payments for the 2023 Hajj deposits.
The AHUON President lamented that many members have passed away while waiting for these refunds and expressed concern over the commission’s failure to publish a list of companies eligible for refunds, as previously agreed upon.
He pointed out that some members have significant balances in their Saudi accounts that remain inaccessible, adding, “Our members receive nothing as income from the amounts we deposit annually.”
In response to these allegations, NAHCON has stated that it is committed to addressing the concerns raised by AHUON.
The commission’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Fatima Usara, acknowledged the issues regarding accumulated refunds and emphasized that NAHCON has maintained ongoing communication with AHUON.
She attributed the delays in resolving financial matters to the complexities involved in Hajj operations, which require coordination with multiple stakeholders, both domestically and internationally.
“NAHCON wishes to reassure AHUON and the public that it has no intention of downplaying or neglecting the issue of refunds,” Usara added, as both parties seek a resolution to this pressing financial dispute.
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