SERAP Gives Wike, Okowa, Others 7 Days to Reveal Spending of N625bn Refunds

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the nine oil-producing states in the country to “provide and widely publish details of spending of the oil derivation refunds of N625billion recently paid to them by the federal government of Nigeria, including details and locations of projects executed with the money.”

SERAP disclosed this in an open letter dated 10 December 2022 and made available to press on Sunday.

The letter was signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

Recall that the federal government recently paid N625.43billion oil derivation refunds to the governors of Edo, Abia, Rivers, Ondo, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta states.

The payments covered 13 percent oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds. The refunds date from 1999 to 2021.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we haven’t heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state to comply with our request in the public interest,” SERAP’s letter reads in part.