The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu at the Federal High Court over the failure to publish spending details of money saved from fuel subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol.
SERAP said the litigation followed reports that the Federal Government had saved N400bn within the four weeks of the implementation of the removal of subsidy on petrol policy.
A statement issued on Sunday in Lagos by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadareand and made available to Newsmen, said the organization is seeking “an order of the court to direct and compel Tinubu to publish details of spending of about N400 billion saved as a result of the removal of subsidy on petrol on from May 29, 2023.”
SERAP is arguing that “the government has a legal obligation to ensure that the savings from the removal of subsidy are spent for the benefits of poor Nigerians who it said are bearing the brunt of the removal.”
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1514/2023 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to provide details of the plans on how the savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol, including specific projects on which the funds would be spent.”
“An order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to provide details of the mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that the savings from the removal of subsidy on petrol are not diverted into private pockets.”
In the suit, SERAP explained that “Nigerians have the right to know how the savings are spent. Disclosing the spending details of the savings would reduce the risks of corruption in the spending of the funds.”
Text except headline courtesy of Dailypost
