The Northern Coalition for Accountability and Public Trust (NCAPT) has described the statement by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) as misleading.
According to the group, Public accountability is too important to be reduced to headline activism and media sensationalism, stating that available records and findings clearly show that the widely circulated N26.9 billion allegations were completely misleading.
A statement issued by the Executive Director, Northern Coalition for Accountability and Public Trust, Kaduna State, Amb. Abubakar Yusuf Yaro noted that the NCAPT investigation’s data indicate an average annual allocation to the USPF of about N7.5 billion during the period under review.
“Simple arithmetic, therefore, raises a legitimate question: how does an institution with an average yearly funding of N7.5 billion suddenly ‘lose’ N26.9 billion?
“Even more revealing is that over N13.8 billion of the referenced amount 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.
“As a good governance and accountability advocacy organisation, we noticed the same pattern applies to claims concerning multi-year projects and budget implementation cycles. Telecommunications infrastructure projects are not executed within weeks. Rural broadband expansion, base stations, ICT centres, and connectivity infrastructure naturally span several fiscal periods.
This is standard public finance practice recognised and approved within government budgeting systems.
“At this juncture, we want to clarify that the records further indicate that the procurement processes referenced in the allegations passed through established approval channels, including the Bureau of Public Procurement and relevant tenders’ boards. Payments reportedly followed certification procedures supported by documentation, reports and project evidence,” the coalition said.
The group asks SERAP Why were explanations ignored before rushing to the media space
“More concerning is the revelation that previous audit exercises and even 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.
“SERAP, as an organisation that consistently advocates fairness, transparency, and accountability, ought to understand that audit observations are not conclusive proof of corruption. They are queries meant for clarification through established institutional processes.
“Unfortunately, what the Nigerians who witnessed this case appear closer to a public conviction campaign than to a genuine search for accountability.
“Responsible civic engagement demands balance, verification and fairness. Any organisation genuinely committed to the public interest should first seek clarification from all parties before publishing conclusions that could damage institutional credibility or mislead citizens.
“To the best of our knowledge, USPF remains one of the most strategic intervention platforms for rural connectivity and digital inclusion in Nigeria. Across underserved communities, the Fund has supported ICT access, telecommunications infrastructure and connectivity projects that continue to bridge communication gaps between urban and rural populations.
“We therefore urge 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 or media theatrics. Nigerians deserve truth, not manufactured alarm,” the coalition added.
