The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has asked Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, to release details of expenditure on N9.4bn paid by the federal government to digital switchover (DSO) stakeholders.
In February, the federal government inaugurated a ministerial task force to oversee the digital switchover in the country.
In a letter addressed to the minister last week, Olanrewaju Suraju, chairman, CSNAC, said Nigerians have the right to know how the funds were spent considering allegations of corruption surrounding the programme.
According to the group, the request was made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOI ACT 2011).
“Nigerians have the right to know how the funds were spent. We are making the request in the overall public interest and in line with transparency and accountability in public administration,” Suraju said.
“Some N2.5 billion of the funds, for instance, were given as seed grant to a private company which led to the suspension and arraignment of a former director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
“The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), requests being made including but not limited to evidence of payments made to the stakeholders/beneficiaries of the N9.4 Billion, agreement of engagement of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) stakeholders and a detailed expenditure that meets global standard.
“We have given you seven days to respond to the request. This is necessary for the information ministry to avoid necessary charges in the court of law.”
