Why You Must Account For Security Votes

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on all 36 state governors in Nigeria to provide a transparent account of how they have utilized security vote allocations since May 29, 2023. The group also urged the governors to invite anti-corruption agencies to investigate the spending.

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.

SERAP noted that governors can no longer claim immunity from scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment that confirmed the law’s applicability to all levels of government.



“The Supreme Court has made clear that state governors can no longer hide under their unfounded claim that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them,” the statement said.

The group added that a failure by any governor to comply with its request within seven days would result in legal action aimed at compelling transparency.

It also cited a World Bank report that classifies Nigeria as an economy facing fragile and conflict-affected situations, stating that insecurity continues to drive extreme poverty and deteriorating human development indicators.

SERAP said, “The judgment sends a powerful message that state governors can no longer escape accountability for how they spend security votes.

“Disclosing details of spending public funds as security votes by your state would serve to engage the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the security problems in several states and what the governors are doing to respond to them.”