By Perpetua Onuegbu
Connected Development, an NGO has decried the disregard of state governments to the call for accountability to the nine billion palliative disbursement by the Federal Government to them to cushion the effect fuel subsidy removal.
Mr Hamzat Lawal, Executive Director of the group expressed this displeasure in a statement he signed .on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, there is increasing concerns regarding transparency and accountability in governance to address the worrisome lack of response from state to governors to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests about the disbursement of allocated funds.
“On September 1, 2023, the Finance Minister announced a partial release of 2 billion naira per
state from five billion naira earmarked for palliative measures following the fuel subsidy
removal allocation was intended to alleviate inflation concerns plaguing the nation.
“Subsequently, on December 9, 2023, the President’s Special Advisor disclosed the distribution of 9 billion naira to each state, with 7 billion designated for infrastructural development and the remaining 2 billion for palliative care and the mitigation of subsidy impacts.
“Recognising the importance of transparency in governance, we took proactive steps by
submitting FOI letters to all state governments on February 16, 2023.
Hamzat said the letters requested two fundamental pieces of information in line with Sections 2(3) and (4) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011:
He said they required records detailing the disbursement of subsidy palliatives, including itemised expenditures, the list and location of beneficiaries, dates of distribution, and other pertinent details.
“A comprehensive list of infrastructural projects undertaken thus far, accompanied by relevant details.
“Under the provisions of the FOI law, state governments were allotted seven days to respond to our requests, with the option of an additional seven days upon request for an extension.
“Regrettably, as of the time of this statement, no state government has responded to our inquiries,
except for Plateau State. We commend the Plateau State government for their prompt and
responsible action in responding to our Freedom of Information request.
“By acknowledging the importance of transparency and accountability, Plateau State has set a commendable example for others to follow.
“This blatant disregard for transparency and accountability is unacceptable and shows an
accountability deficit within our governance structure.”
The CODE stressed that Nigerian citizens, as stakeholders in the democratic process, had a right to know how public funds allocated for their benefit have been utilised.
He therefore urged all state governors to immediately respond to our FOI requests and provide the requested information without further delay.
Lawal noted that failure to do so undermined the principles of good governance and raised serious concerns about the judicious use of resources meant to alleviate the burden on citizens during a challenging economic period.
“At Connected Development (CODE), we remain committed to empowering marginalised
communities and fostering informed citizenry as integral components of good governance.
“We believe in the transformative power of information and transparency to drive positive change, bridging the gap between communities and decision-makers.
“We urge the media and civil society organizations to join us in demanding transparency and holding state governments accountable for the proper utilization of public funds.
“Together, we can foster an environment of good governance and ensure that the resources entrusted to our leaders are used for the intended purpose of improving Nigeria and Nigerians.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Connected Development (CODE) is a leading Civil Society Organization in Africa dedicated to
empowering marginalised communities, enhancing access to information, and fostering grassroot movement with positive change.(NAN)