SERAP may sue 36 govs over N51bn UBEC funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the 36 state governors across the country to immediately redirect public funds used to service ‘underserving benefits’ in paying counterpart funds that would allow poor children enjoy access to quality basic education in their respective state. The group listed the ‘underserving benefits’ to include public funds budgeted to pay ex-governors undeserved pensions and other retirement benefits, and for security votes. SERAP made the call in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘N51bn UBEC funds: Pay counterpart funds or face legal action, SERAP tells 36 governors’, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. According to Oluwadare, several of the 36 states have reportedly failed to pay the counterpart funds to access over N51bn matching grants earmarked by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for basic education in the country, as at July 2019. Oluwadare said the group had since reached out to the state governors through a letter dated 19 February 2022 which was signed by him, to remind them on the importance of the counterpart funds and why they should access N51.6bn of the matching grants to curb out-of-school children menace. The letter, sent to each of the 36 governors, read in part, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your state to comply with our request in the public interest.