A coalition of 25 civil‑society organisations has demanded that the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, and the Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Yomi Arowosafe, publicly explain the whereabouts of N26.9 billion flagged as missing in the Auditor‑General’s September 2025 report.
The request was set out in a communique signed on Tuesday by Bilal Galadima and James Ogenyi on behalf of the Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability, following an emergency meeting in Abuja. The coalition says the Auditor‑General’s annual report highlighted unaccounted expenditures, unremitted public funds, irregular contract awards and payments for services not rendered within the USPF.
In the statement, the coalition urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to launch an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into all USPF transactions identified by the audit. It warned that any failure to act swiftly would endorse impunity and betray Nigerians, particularly those in unserved and underserved communities who rely on the fund’s mandate.
“The Coalition will embark on a mass protest on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, to express public discontent and demand urgent action on the alleged missing N26.9 billion USPF funds,” the communique read. “We call on the Minister and the USPF Secretary to publicly account for the alleged amount and to ensure that anyone responsible is prosecuted and that any diverted funds are recovered and returned to the treasury.”
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of public resources, declaring it would not relent until justice is served and the integrity of the Universal Service Provision Fund is restored.
As of the time of writing, neither Dr Tijani nor Mr Arowosafe has responded to the coalition’s accusations. The issue is expected to draw heightened public attention ahead of the planned protest, putting pressure on the government to clarify the audit findings and address the alleged financial irregularities within the USPF.
The development underscores ongoing concerns over the management of public funds in Nigeria’s digital‑infrastructure programmes and highlights the role of civil‑society groups in demanding accountability from state institutions.
