• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

      PRNigeria logo fearured image

      EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

      EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Customs Diplomacy: Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Ink Mutual Assistance Deal

      Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Nigeria, Belarus Forge Alliance to Combat Smuggling, Facilitate Trade

      President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and CG Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Tinubu Hails Customs Boss Wale Adeniyi on Historic Election as WCO…

      WTO Lauds Nigeria Customs for Embracing Global Trade Standards

      Nigeria, Rwanda Sign Landmark Tax Treaty to Boost Cross-Border Investment

  • National
    • NELFUND

      NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application Portal

      Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede,

      Security Watchdog Hails NSA, Military for Anti-Terrorism Successes

      IGP Kayode Egbetokun Police Boss

      IGP Egbetokun: Leading the Charge for a Safer Nigeria By Danjuma…

      Police Officer

      Police Rescue 29 Captives, Arrest 3 Suspects in Kogi, Lagos, Katsina

      NDLEA arrests ex-footballer for drug trafficking

      NDLEA Arrest Ex-Nigerian Footballer, 72-Year-Old Grandma, Others Over Illicit Drugs Trafficking

    • Government
      • Tinubu Seeks Visa Waivers, Scholarships as Nigeria Establishes Diplomatic Ties with…

        Malam Yusuf Abubakar Dingyadi

        Dingyadi, PDP Chair’s Vocal Spokesperson, Resigns

        Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar

        Ambassador Tuggar’s Doctrine of Calm in a World on Fire By…

        A brief travelogue by Fredrick Nwabufo

        Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack

        18 Workers, Two MDAs Honoured as Federal Civil Service Week Ends

  • Security
    • Police Officer

      Kano Police Confirm Death of Armed Robber After Foiled Attack on…

      Nigerian Navy Personnel

      Navy Arrests Suspected Militant, Recovers Machine Gun in Bayelsa

      Police Nab Two for Cement Diversion Across Four States

      Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede,

      Security Watchdog Hails NSA, Military for Anti-Terrorism Successes

      IGP Kayode Egbetokun Police Boss

      IGP Egbetokun: Leading the Charge for a Safer Nigeria By Danjuma…

  • Features
    • IGP Kayode Egbetokun Police Boss

      IGP Egbetokun: Leading the Charge for a Safer Nigeria By Danjuma…

      NDLEA Logo

      Drug Culture in Nigerian Music: When Art Imitates Harm By Arafat…

      Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar

      Ambassador Tuggar’s Doctrine of Calm in a World on Fire By…

      A brief travelogue by Fredrick Nwabufo

      WTO Lauds Nigeria Customs for Embracing Global Trade Standards

  • State
    • Police Officer

      Kano Police Confirm Death of Armed Robber After Foiled Attack on…

      Nigerian Navy Personnel

      Navy Arrests Suspected Militant, Recovers Machine Gun in Bayelsa

      Tinubu Seeks Visa Waivers, Scholarships as Nigeria Establishes Diplomatic Ties with…

      Plateau Delegation Visits Zaria Over Mangu Killings

      Anambra Police Arrest Man for Masterminding Friend’s Abduction, Collection of N5.3m…

  • Event
    • NELFUND

      NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application Portal

      EFCC Witness: Yahaya Bello Had No Property Dealings With EFAB

      Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu (RMS), with PRNigeria Ladies in PR I'm Abuja

      Rukayat Shittu Set to Publish Inspirational Book “Cracking the Glass Ceiling”,…

      Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo

      Former Kwara Governor, Chief Adebayo, Dies at 84

      Managing Editor of Image Merchants, Mr Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, PR Expert, Celestine Achi and the Editor-in-chief, Yushau Shuaib presenting the book to PRNigeria center

      PRNigeria Commends New Book on Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Anti-Corruption SERAP Asks Buhari, Governors to Disclose spending on ‘security votes’
  • Anti-Corruption

SERAP Asks Buhari, Governors to Disclose spending on ‘security votes’

By
Kolawole Oluwadare
-
April 14, 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

SERAP Asks Buhari, Governors to Disclose spending on ‘security votes’

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent Freedom of Information requests to President Muhammadu Buhari and the 36 state governors in Nigeria requesting them to use their “good offices and leadership positions to urgently provide information on specific details of spending of appropriated public funds as security votes between 2011 and 2019.”

In the separate requests sent to Mr Buhari and the governors, SERAP said: “Given the current security realities in the country, we need the information to determine if public funds meant to provide security and ensure respect and protection of the rights to life, physical integrity, and liberty of Nigerians have been spent for this purpose. Our request is limited to details of visible, specific security measures and projects executed and does not include spending on intelligence operations.”

In the FOI requests dated 12 April 2019 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “’Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’ It is the security of the citizens that is intended and not the security of select individuals in public office. SERAP believes that transparency and accountability in the spending of security votes are critically important to fully implement this responsibility imposed on both the federal and state governments.”

SERAP said: “We are concerned that rather than serving the citizens, the appropriation of public funds as security votes over the years would seem to serve high-ranking government officials at all levels—federal and states. We are also concerned that the practice of security votes entrusts discretionary powers to spend huge public funds on certain elected public officials who may not have any idea of operational issues on security matters.”

The requests read in part: “SERAP urges you to open-up on the matter and provide information and documents as requested. This will be one step in the right direction.Unless the information is urgently provided, Nigerians would continue to see the appropriation of public funds as security votes and the institutionalization of this cash in ‘Ghana Must Go bags’ practice as a tool for self-enrichment.”

“We would be grateful if the requested information is provided to us within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal action under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply with our request.”

“The most general purpose of State power is to provide security for citizens and other residents and to enable them lead a life that is meaningful to them. However, the growing level of insecurity, violence, kidnappings and killings in Zamfara State and other parts of Nigeria suggest that successive governments—at both federal and state levels—have been unwilling or unable to satisfactorily implement this fundamental constitutional commitment.”

Read Also:

  • NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application Portal
  • Kano Police Confirm Death of Armed Robber After Foiled Attack on Household
  • Navy Arrests Suspected Militant, Recovers Machine Gun in Bayelsa

“SERAP believes that there is a strong link between corruption and insecurity, violence, kidnappings and killings in several parts of the country. Available evidence would seem to suggest that many of the tiers of government in Nigeria have used security votes as a conduit for grand corruption rather than spending the funds to improve and enhance national security and ensure full protection of Nigerians’ rights to life, physical integrity, and liberty. In fact, former governor of Kano State Musa Kwankwaso once described security votes as ‘another way of stealing public funds’.”

“The huge financial resources budgeted for ‘security votes’ by successive governments—at both federal and state levels–have not matched the security realities, especially given the level of insecurity, violence, kidnappings and killings in many parts of the country. The current security realities in the country would seem to suggest massive political use, mismanagement or stealing of security votes by many governments.”

“SERAP believes that the Federal government and state governments ought to push for transparency and accountability in the spending of security votes both at the federal and state levels, if any such funds are to be properly spent to promote and ensure sustainable peace and security for the people of Nigeria.”

“SERAP believes that by providing the information, your government would help put an end to any insinuation that security votes are spent on political activities, mismanaged or stolen. This would in turn contribute to better opportunities for citizens to assess the level of spending and commitment of successive governments to ensuring the security of lives and property of the people.”

“Democratic societies function best with a high level of trust. Corruption, opacity and lack of accountability undermine that trust, and thus undermine the very foundation of democracies.”

“We note that the obligation to provide security and protect people’s rights to life, physical integrity, and liberty ought to be a shared responsibility of the federal and state governments, and not just for the federal government, as state governors also appropriate huge public funds each year as security votes. Many governors reportedly hide the security votes in their budgets as the funds are not expressly stated in their appropriation acts.”

“By Sections 2(3)(d)(V) & (4) of the FOI Act, there is a binding legal duty to ensure that details of spending on specific security measures and projects are widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through various means, including on a dedicated website. The information being requested does not come within the purview of the types of information exempted from disclosure by the provisions of the FOI Act.”

“As revealed by a 2018 report by Transparency International (TI), most of the funds appropriated as security votes are spent on political activities, mismanaged or simply stolen. It is estimated that security votes add up to over N241.2 billion every year. On top of appropriated security votes, governments also receive millions of dollars yearly as international security assistance.”

“According to TI, security vote spending exceeds 70 percent of the annual budget of the Nigeria Police Force, more than the Nigerian Army’s annual budget, and more than the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force’s annual budget combined.”

SERAP therefore urged Mr Buhari and the governors to:

Disclose including by publishing on a dedicated website, details of spending of public funds appropriated as security votes between 2011 to date, and specific security measures and projects on which such funds have been spent

Urgently put in place concrete measures to end the patently unconstitutional, illegal and widespread appropriation of public funds as security votes

Establish Joint Security Trust Funds between the federal government and the 36 state governments with strong legal framework, oversight and auditing mechanisms, as a permanent replacement for the illegal and unconstitutional appropriation of public funds as security votes.

Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
Lagos, Nigeria

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Governors
  • Muhammadu Buhari
  • SEcurity Votes
  • SERAP
Previous articlePolice Eliminate 9 Notorious Abuja-Kaduna Expressway Kidnappers
Next articleArmy War College Inaugurates 65 Participants
Kolawole Oluwadare
Kolawole Oluwadare
http://www.PRNigeria.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

ASUU

Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences Kano Make-Up Artist for Naira Abuse

PRNigeria logo fearured image

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

EFCC, CCC and the Battle Against Corruption in Nigeria, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman

EFCC’s Anti-Corruption War: Between Media Trial and Intelligence-Driven Operations

Olayiwola Oguntade

Court Sentences Ex JAMB Staff for N10m Fraud in Ibadan

Diezani-Alison-Madueke

Nigeria, US sign MoU to repatriate $53m linked to former oil minister, Diezani

EFCC Sacks 27 Fraudulent Officers for Misconduct

Court Okays EFCC’s Request to Freez 67 Bank Accounts Over Alleged Fraud

Official_JAMB_logo

JAMB, NRC Top ICPC Integrity Ranking

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application Portal
  • Kano Police Confirm Death of Armed Robber After Foiled Attack on Household
  • Navy Arrests Suspected Militant, Recovers Machine Gun in Bayelsa
  • Tinubu Seeks Visa Waivers, Scholarships as Nigeria Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Saint Lucia, OECS
  • Police Nab Two for Cement Diversion Across Four States
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application PortalKano Police Confirm Death of Armed Robber After Foiled Attack on HouseholdNavy Arrests Suspected Militant, Recovers Machine Gun in BayelsaTinubu Seeks Visa Waivers, Scholarships as Nigeria Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Saint Lucia, OECSPolice Nab Two for Cement Diversion Across Four StatesFACT-CHECK: Are Travelers in Kogi Under Attack by Armed Fulani Herdsmen?FACT-CHECK: Did Borno Governor Zulum's Wife Lift Primary School Mate Out of Poverty in Viral Video?Fact-Check: Did Saudi 'Sleeping Prince' Wake Up After 20 Years in a Coma?Fact Check: Does Rat Faeces Cure Appendicitis as Claimed in Viral Video?Security Watchdog Hails NSA, Military for Anti-Terrorism SuccessesIGP Egbetokun: Leading the Charge for a Safer Nigeria By Danjuma S. MusaISWAP Terrorists Eliminated While Planting IEDs on Borno HighwayFG Officials Arrives S'Arabia for Business Mogul Aminu Dantata’s Burial in MadinahPolice Rescue 29 Captives, Arrest 3 Suspects in Kogi, Lagos, KatsinaCustoms Diplomacy: Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Ink Mutual Assistance Deal
X whatsapp