The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, over their alleged failure to account for ₦14 trillion in fuel subsidy savings.
The suit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, under file number FHC/L/MSC/1424/2025, seeks comprehensive disclosures on how the funds, received via the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations, were spent. SERAP is demanding details on executed projects, their completion status, and the locations where the funds were deployed.
According to SERAP, despite the substantial FAAC allocations following the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023, the increased funding has not translated into improved access to healthcare, education, or social services for Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable populations.
“Millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians have not benefited from the trillions of naira collected by the governors and FCT minister from fuel subsidy savings,” the human rights group stated.
“The spending of these public funds has largely remained shrouded in secrecy, raising significant risks of mismanagement or diversion.”
SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Valentina Adegoke, argued in the suit that the Nigerian Constitution and democratic principles entitle citizens to know how public funds are utilized.
They further cited a landmark Supreme Court ruling affirming that the Freedom of Information Act applies to public records held by states, including funds derived from subsidy savings.
The human rights organisation highlighted that the FAAC distributed N28.78 trillion in 2024 from fuel subsidy savings, marking a 79 per cent increase from the previous year, with states receiving N5.22 trillion, a 45.5 per cent rise. Monthly distributions in 2025 reportedly exceeded N1.6 trillion.
SERAP is asking the court to compel the governors and the FCT minister to provide full accounting of the allocations, including projects executed and their impact. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
“This suit seeks to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, particularly funds intended to relieve the socio-economic burden on Nigerians,” SERAP said.
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