The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal government of Nigeria to demand a refund of the N1.4billion it spent on Niger Republic, and use it to fund tertiary education in Nigeria, which is why ASUU has been on strike.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, confirmed on Wednesday that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the purchase and donation of vehicles worth N1.4 billion to neighbouring Niger Republic.
This disclosure has sparked outrage among Nigerians with a majority calling for a refund of the money.
In her defence, the minister, said that the donation was to help Niger Republic address its security challenges.
According to Ahmed, providing intervention to the neighboring Niger Republic was not new and it was the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari who approved the purchase.
She said that President Buhari, whose actions she could not question, had the right to make his own assessment of situations and give directives accordingly.
She added that the financial support, which was primarily for the purpose of enhancing capacity to protect their territory, based on a request by the Nigerien Government was also in the best interest of the country.
Reacting, civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) tweeted: “The Buhari administration must immediately ask Niger Republic authorities to refund the N1.4 billion approved for them to buy vehicles, and use the money to offset the funding for ASUU, so that poor children can go back to school.”