The federal government had paid a whopping sum of N9.4billion to the stakeholders.

In a letter addressed to the minister, Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption coalition asked the minister to make available to the public how the N9.4 billion released to the stakeholders was spent.

The letter with the caption “Request for information on the N9.4b approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOI ACT 2011)” was sent to the minister last Monday.

In March 2021, during the unveiling of the 13-member Ministerial Task Force on Digital Switch Over (DSO), the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the sum of N9.4 billion as outstanding payment to key Digital Switch Over (DSO) stakeholders.

Civil Society Network Against Corruption, (CSNAC) in the letter signed by its chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said the minister has an immediate obligation to make public how the funds were expended.

The request by CSNAC was hinged on the legal framework of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act which mandates public access to vital information.

“Nigerians have the right to know how the funds were spent. We are requesting the overall public interest and line with transparency and accountability in public administration” Mr. Suraju said in the letter addressed to the minister.

The dispute is raging over the funds amidst reports that the expenditure is shrouded in corruption allegations. Some N2.5 billion of the funds, for instance, were given as seed grants to a private company which led to the suspension and arraignment of a former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The coalition is requesting in line with Section 2, 3, and 4 of the FOI Act, 2011.

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 the 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” Suraju said.