Human rights lawyer and Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover the N33.75 billion allegedly unaccounted for in cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians and prosecute all public officials found culpable.

Falana made the call in a statement issued on Sunday, September 6, 2026, following a revelation by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, that the Federal Government could not provide sufficient evidence to auditors showing that N33.75 billion in cash transfers meant for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households actually reached genuine beneficiaries.

According to him, the disclosure is contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

Falana said the development was particularly troubling given the establishment of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) as a statutory agency under the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act, 2022, enacted by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Act, he noted, provides NSIPA with the powers and legal framework to design programmes, manage beneficiaries’ databases, strengthen payment and accountability systems, and collaborate with state governments and development partners to ensure coherent national implementation.

He said the agency is mandated to implement the N-Power programme, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, National Cash Transfer Programme, National Social Safety-Net Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

However, Falana alleged that NSIPA had been turned into a “cesspit of corruption” by some public officials.

He recalled that the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, was investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion, with a charge subsequently filed against her.

He further recalled that in April 2026, the Federal Capital Territory High Court issued an arrest warrant against Farouq and her former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, after they repeatedly failed to appear for arraignment.

Falana also cited the suspension of Farouq’s successor, Betta Edu, following the leakage of a December 2023 memo directing the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585 million in public intervention funds into a private bank account.

He said Halima Shehu, then Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, was also suspended and questioned over the alleged suspicious movement of funds.

“By now, the EFCC ought to have concluded its investigation into the scandal to enable Betta Edu and Halima Shehu to know their fate,” he said.

Falana said that, following the scandals and pressure from international development partners, including the World Bank, which funds the National Social Safety Net Programme, the Federal Government introduced stricter mechanisms for tracking beneficiaries.

He noted that beneficiaries are now required to link their profiles to their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) as part of efforts to eliminate ghost beneficiaries.

Against this background, Falana described the Auditor-General’s latest revelation as requiring urgent investigation by the anti-graft agency.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75 billion,” he said.

He also urged the EFCC to immediately investigate the alleged diversion of the funds earmarked as cash transfers for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

“All the characters involved in the shameful conduct should be arrested and prosecuted without any delay,” he said.

Falana further referred to the $3.05 billion package of development programmes unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in July 2026 to deepen poverty reduction, strengthen human capital and expand economic opportunities across the country.

According to him, the World Bank-supported initiatives are designed to ensure that the gains of the Federal Government’s economic reforms translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

He, however, warned against allowing public officials to divert funds meant for poverty reduction.

Rather than leaving the disbursement of the funds solely in the hands of government officials, Falana urged the Federal Government to establish a body comprising representatives of credible civil society organisations to oversee the disbursement of the $3.05 billion development package to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

He further claimed that the World Bank had concluded arrangements to withdraw the funds if the Federal Government failed to prevent its officials from mismanaging or diverting them.

Falana signed the statement in his capacity as Chairman of ASCAB.

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