Group to governors: Account for security votes

File: Nigerian govs forum

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged Nigeria’s 36 state governors to publicly account for how they have spent security vote allocations since May 29, 2023, and to invite anti-corruption agencies to investigate the expenditure.

In a Freedom of Information request dated June 28, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group also called on the governors to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission 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 decried what it called the continued failure of many governors to use public funds to improve security despite receiving billions of naira under the guise of security votes.

“Despite the billions of naira yearly budgeted as security votes, many governors are grossly failing to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the people in their states, contrary to section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution,” the group said.

It warned that secrecy surrounding the use of security votes has fuelled corruption and weakened the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable. Punch