A governance advocacy organisation, Northern Coalition for Accountability and Public Trust (NCAPT), has faulted claims by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that the sum of ₦26.9 billion is missing from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).
SERAP recently asked President Bola Tinubu to order an urgent investigation into the alleged missing or diverted ₦26.9 billion from the USPF. The group urged the President to direct the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, and the Secretary of the USPF, Yomi Arowosafe, to “account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing or diverted ₦26.9 billion of public funds from the USPF.”
Also, the Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability has vowed to mobilise Nigerians for a mass protest if the minister and the USPF secretary fail to account for the alleged missing funds.
However, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Amb. Abubakar Yusuf Yaro, on Wednesday, NCAPT faulted SERAP’s claims, describing the allegation as exaggerated and lacking critical context.
Citing available records and findings, NCAPT said the allegation was misleading.
“NCAPT critically observed that data available from the investigation shows the average annual allocation to the USPF within the period under review was about ₦7.5 billion. Simple arithmetic, therefore, raises a legitimate question: how does an institution with an average yearly funding of ₦7.5 billion suddenly ‘lose’ ₦26.9 billion?
“Even more revealing is the fact that over ₦13.8 billion of the amount being referenced relates to operating surplus deductions reportedly handled directly by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) before funds are transferred to the USPF. According to the records reviewed, the USPF does not receive or retain those funds in the first place,” the statement said.
NCAPT went further to stress that procurement processes referenced in the allegations passed through established approval channels, including the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and relevant tenders boards. “Payments reportedly followed certification procedures supported by documentation, reports, and project evidence,” it added.
Accusing SERAP of engaging in a media trial, NCAPT observed that previous audit exercises and reviews conducted by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee reportedly found no irregularities in the operations of the USPF during the same period under review.
“This raises serious concerns about the motive behind the latest attempt to create the impression of large-scale fraud without allowing constitutional oversight institutions to complete their work,” the statement said, adding that SERAP, as an organisation that constantly advocates fairness, transparency, and accountability, ought to understand that audit observations are not final proof of corruption. “They are queries meant for clarification through established institutional processes,” NCAPT explained.
The statement added: “Unfortunately, what Nigerians witnessed in this case appears closer to a public conviction campaign than a genuine search for accountability.
“Responsible civic engagement demands balance, verification, and fairness. Any organisation genuinely committed to public interest should first seek clarification from all parties before publishing conclusions capable of damaging institutional credibility and misleading citizens.”
NCAPT urged the National Assembly and relevant oversight bodies to independently review all documents, invite all concerned parties, and allow due process to prevail without external pressure.
