By Paul Joseph
A coalition of civil society organisations has announced plans to stage a mass protest in Abuja next Tuesday over the alleged disappearance of N26.9 billion from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The coalition, operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability, disclosed the decision in a communiqué issued after a meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The planned protest, scheduled for May 19, 2026, is aimed at demanding accountability and urgent government action over what the groups described as serious irregularities in the management of the telecommunications intervention fund.
The development follows recent concerns raised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which had earlier called on President Tinubu to direct the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, and the Secretary of the USPF, Yomi Arowosafe, to account for the alleged missing or diverted N26.9 billion.
SERAP also urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), alongside relevant anti-corruption agencies, to immediately investigate the matter and ensure accountability where necessary.
According to the coalition, the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report published on September 9, 2025, raised serious concerns over alleged unaccounted expenditures, failure to remit public funds, irregular contract awards, and payments reportedly made for services not rendered within the USPF.
“The Auditor-General’s report documents serious allegations concerning the Universal Service Provision Fund, including the alleged disappearance of N26.9 billion in public funds,” the communiqué stated.
The statement, jointly signed by Comrade Bilal Galadima and Dr James Ogenyi, outlined several demands by the coalition, including a full-scale independent probe into all transactions flagged in the Auditor-General’s report.
The groups also demanded that anyone found culpable should face prosecution in accordance with the law, while all diverted or missing public funds should be fully recovered and returned to government coffers.
They warned that failure by the government to address the allegations transparently and urgently could amount to encouraging impunity and abandoning millions of Nigerians in underserved communities who depend on the USPF mandate for improved telecommunications access.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of public resources, insisting that it would continue to push for justice until the integrity of the Universal Service Provision Fund is restored.
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