The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Nigeria’s 36 state governors to publicly disclose how security vote allocations totaling billions of naira have been spent since May 29, 2023.
The group also urged governors to invite anti-corruption agencies to investigate those expenditures.
In a Freedom of Information request dated June 28, 2025 and signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP demanded that governors “publicly account for how they have spent security vote allocations since May 29, 2023, and invite anti-corruption agencies to investigate the expenditure.”
SERAP further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to “track and monitor the disbursement of the funds.”
“In the wake of the Benue massacre and well‑documented ongoing cases of insecurity in several states, there is a legitimate public interest for governors to account for how they spend security votes,” SERAP said.
The organisation lamented that governors continue to “grossly fail to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the people” despite receiving millions under the guise of security votes. It noted this is “contrary to section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution.”
SERAP warned that secrecy in security vote disbursement has “fuelled corruption and weakened the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.”
The group emphasized that governors can no longer claim immunity from scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act, citing a landmark Supreme Court ruling affirming that the Act applies to all levels of government, including state institutions .
“The Supreme Court has made clear that state governors can no longer hide under their unfounded claim that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them,” the statement said.
SERAP added that failure by any governor to comply within seven days would trigger legal action aimed at enforcing transparency.
Highlighting the stakes, SERAP referenced a World Bank report which classifies Nigeria as “fragile and conflict-affected,” warning that unchecked insecurity has fueled extreme poverty and declining human development indicators.
“The judgment sends a powerful message that state governors can no longer escape accountability for how they spend security votes.”
“Disclosing details of spending public funds as security votes by your state would serve to engage the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the security problems in several states and what the governors are doing to respond to them.” SERAP concluded.
