By RismadarVoice Media
December 28, 2025
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the 35 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over their alleged failure to account for about ₦14 trillion realized as fuel subsidy savings.
Also joined as a respondent in the suit is the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
SERAP said the Governors, the FCT Minister had received trillions of naira as increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) following the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023, however argued that the funds had not translated into improved access to quality healthcare, education, other basic services for poor, vulnerable Nigerians.
The suit, marked FHC/L/MSC/1424/2025, was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, according to a statement signed on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
In the suit, SERAP is asking the court to compel the respondents to disclose details of how the increased FAAC allocations – described as fuel subsidy savings, have been spent since mid-2023.
Specifically, the organization is seeking an order directing the Governors and the FCT minister to disclose details of the spending and the locations of projects, if any, executed with the subsidy savings.
Filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Valentina Adegoke, the suit noted that FAAC distributed ₦28.78 trillion in 2024 from petrol subsidy removal to the three tiers of government, representing a 79 per cent increase from the previous year.
According to the filing, allocations to state governments rose by 45.5 per cent to ₦5.22 trillion, while monthly distributions in 2025 have reportedly exceeded ₦1.6 trillion.
Despite the surge in revenue, SERAP argued that millions of Nigerians had not benefited from the funds, as several states reportedly still owe salaries, pensions, continue to borrow to meet recurrent obligations, and fail to provide basic public services.
The organization cited allegations of corruption, mismanagement of public funds, entrenched impunity at the state level as factors undermining public trust and confidence in governance.
SERAP maintained that Nigerians have a constitutional, legal right to know how public funds, including fuel subsidy savings are spent by state governments and the FCT administration.
It argued that the savings should be used solely for the benefit of poor, vulnerable Nigerians who bear the brunt of the subsidy removal.
The organization relied on Sections 13, 15(5) and 16(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and a Supreme Court judgment affirming that the Freedom of Information Act applies to public records across the federation.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit
