Insecurity: SERAP writes Buhari, 36 governors, seeks disclosure of 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.”

“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:

1. 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.

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

3. 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.

http://serap-nigeria.org/insecurity-serap-writes-buhari-36-governors-seeks-disclosure-of-spending-on-security-votes.ngo/

Why can't Nigerians take this a step further...

Imagine we have a different system of government where the state houses of assembly will be scrapped or modified? Imagine scrapping the NASS or modify the system?

It is noteworthy that most of the infrastructures we have in Nigeria were built during the military era. The military had no NASS, state houses of an assembly where trillions are spent yearly. Take the below as example,

State A, has 25 member house of assembly members...The governor bought each member a Prado SUV worth N27 Million...

25 X 27,000,000 = N675,000,000

This amount on vehicle alone could build a hospital, renovate hundreds of schools, build number or roads. Could create employment by giving 13,500, N50,000 as loan...who would further employ more people...Creating wealth...One would imagine other monies and entitlement these members get...Now take that to the larger NASS...

At this level Nigeria and Africa don't need this type of democracy which is taking all its resources and giving it to few elite. These monies should be used to build infratructure and create wealth for the youths of the nation.

With democracy Lagos third mainland bridge would still be uncompleted!!

Buhari should stop deceiving himself with this corruption matter

What is the essence of this security votes sef? Governors collect security votes yet still run to Buhari everyday for help like Yari of Zamfara

Long overdue

Tobbydhayor90:
Insecurity: SERAP writes Buhari, 36 governors, seeks disclosure of 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.”

“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:

1. 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.

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

3. 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.

http://serap-nigeria.org/insecurity-serap-writes-buhari-36-governors-seeks-disclosure-of-spending-on-security-votes.ngo/

I totally agree with the move by this pressure group and interest group called SERAP.

It is long overdue.

Our collective commonwealth is being abused by the political class in Nigeria.

Just like kanu asking for referendum when it was excluded from our constituition , asking for audit of goverment secuirity votes and running cost is a clear waste of time except we dump Abacha's/abdusalam/ military 1999 constituition for our own national law gotten as a result of national constituition confrence, we are just fooling around

.



.

Is buhari not collecting security votes but he is more poorer than he was in 2015. Scam government

Corruption leads, politicians follows.

Dear SERAP (or is it SHARAP?)

What is the point of writing a letter that will simply be disregarded and end up in the waste paper basket?

If you really want to bring about change, support restructuring so that those regions with the intellectual capacity to advance into the 21st ceentury can leave behind the illiterate and backwards parts of the country where they belong in 7th century Arabia.

Let us stop pretending that all fingers are equal.

They should write to the National Assembly to change the constitution. If the law says the spending of the security vote shall not be audited then all this is just publicity stunts. Until the law is changed no one can force any sitting governor or president to publish anything

Waste of time if you ask me

Tobbydhayor90:
Insecurity: SERAP writes Buhari, 36 governors, seeks disclosure of 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.”

“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:

1. 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.

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

3. 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.

http://serap-nigeria.org/insecurity-serap-writes-buhari-36-governors-seeks-disclosure-of-spending-on-security-votes.ngo/

Look at this govt owned organisation clajming a non governmental organization, who here in this forum do not know what Chester is not he same as leopard ,though they may have the same sport like body .
Meaning for those who doesn't know that SERAP is another federal govt arms is deluded by there gimmicks.

Imagine scrapping state assemblies and the thousands of political aides from a state like Lagos...more than N200 Billion will be free in a year, to provide drinking water, complete the rail system, complete road projects that will be useful to all, build good schools, set aside monies to give as loans to unemployed people to create wealth for themselves...These will reduce, cultism, armed banditry, human trafficking, kidnapping...etc, etc...

Most monies meant for the development of Nigeria are drowned in the quagmire of political democracy!!

People should start thinking about how to redesign the system of governance in Nigeria...

Ours indeed is the most expensive democracy on the planet. In terms of infrastructural development, I am tempted to think we achieved more in the so called dark era of the military than we have over the years of democratic rule.

What a shame.

okosodo:
Buhari should stop deceiving himself with this corruption matter

His corruption fight is so fake that I wonder if it is more fake than his oluwole certificate

omenkaLives:
Ours indeed is the most expensive democracy on the planet. In terms of infrastructural development, I am tempted to think we achieved more in the so called dark era of the military than we have over the years of democratic rule.

What a shame.

Not only military era but also Jonathan era, which focused on education as well to work the infrastructure.
Buhari has been a totally terrible disappointment. Buhari is a monumental error of gargantuan proportions.

Stingman:
Imagine scrapping state assemblies and the thousands of political aides from a state like Lagos...more than N200 Billion will be free in a year, to provide drinking water, complete the rail system, complete road projects that will be useful to all, build good schools, set aside monies to give as loans to unemployed people to create wealth for themselves...These will reduce, cultism, armed banditry, human trafficking, kidnapping...etc, etc...

Most monies meant for the development of Nigeria are drowned in the quagmire of political democracy!!

People should start thinking about how to redesign the system of governance in Nigeria...

No need to scrap the Assembly. One should not throw away the baby with the dirty bath water.
It would only make the local government chairman, governor and president mega dictators beyond control by the voters who employ them during elections
Drastically reducing their salaries and benefits to the level of comparative civil servants should be good enough. That is what we should focus on. Does the honourable work 10 times more than the director in the civil service For example.

Since it's against the government they will know the constitution and follow it

seguno2:


Not only military era but also Jonathan era, which focused on education as well to work the infrastructure.
Buhari has been a totally terrible disappointment. Buhari is a monumental error of gargantuan proportions.

Can you mention just FIVE legacy infrastructures Jonathan completed? Especially with respect to the money he had at his disposal which is incomparable to that of any other admin.

Waiting patiently.

It's high time they start asking that question.

APC will tell u that Deziani and Dasuki took all security votes from 2011 to 2015.....but for 2015 to 2019 u won't hear anything again

[s]

omenkaLives:
Can you mention just FIVE legacy infrastructures Jonathan completed? Especially with respect to the money he had at his disposal which is incomparable to that of any other admin.

Waiting patiently.

[/s]
Buhari is the worst president since mankind

[s]

omenkaLives:
Ours indeed is the most expensive democracy on the planet. In terms of infrastructural development, I am tempted to think we achieved more in the so called dark era of the military than we have over the years of democratic rule.

What a shame.

[/s]
bullcrap
nothing beats democracy
Buhari is just an incompetent charlatan

You can't impose Responsibility without Authority, SERAP can't do that. The Information SERAP wants must be reported by the F.G only. Until Full Autonomous Control of Police, Resources and Elections are constitutionally granted the 36 States or The 1999 Exclusive List be made Inclusive to them, no quasi-government can ask them to cooperate on any issue such as this.

If truly people of integrity maybe we could have expected such kind of transparency, but not these lot.

Im glad we have people taking this issue. If Buhari is actually concerned about corruption he should end this practice. The FG will have to comply but states will deny request. Politicans are probably using security votes as dark money to fund campaigns or criminals.

Why even give the states and local security vote money if the dont have Authority over police. They're just a middle man in process. If the FG spend money directly on security agencies it would be better.

orisa37:
You can't impose Responsibility without Authority, SERAP can't do that. The Information SERAP wants must be reported by the F.G only.

Well they do receive cash so they do have duty to disclose how they use it. I do agree they shouldn't get cash.

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