SERAP says USPF’s N26.9 bn claim is misleading.

Abubakar Yaro, a public‑affairs analyst and accountability advocate, has stated that the Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) claims a missing N26.9 billion from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) are misleading.

Yaro made the comment in a statement released on Wednesday.

The Daily Post reports that SERAP has called for an investigation into the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, and the USPF Secretary, Yomi Arowosafe, over the alleged N26.9 billion shortfall.

Yaro said the narrative being presented to the public is selective, exaggerated, and lacks essential context.

He explained that the records and findings available indicate that the widely circulated N26.9 billion claim is completely misleading.

"The data available from the investigation shows the average annual allocation to the USPF within the period under review was about N7.5 billion. 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 the fact that over N13.8 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."

"Therefore, we must ask SERAP why these explanations were ignored before rushing to the media space," he said.