Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, to probe how the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources spent N116 million to buy stationery items in 2015.

This was recently revealed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, Buhari and the minister should also investigate the amount spent on the same items between 2016 and 2020 because a democratic government accountable to the people must be as transparent as possible and must not withhold information for self-serving reasons or simply to avoid embarrassment.

He added that if nothing about is done about the requests, then SERAP will take all appropriate legal actions to compel the ministry to implement the recommendations in the interest of transparency and accountability.

It read, “A democratic government accountable to the people must be as transparent as possible and must not withhold information for self-serving reasons or simply to avoid embarrassment.

“We would therefore be grateful if you would indicate the measures being taken to probe the spending of N116m on biros, letterhead and toners in 2015, and disclose the total amount spent on the same items between 2016 and 2020 within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.

“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your Ministry to implement these recommendations in the interest of transparency and accountability.”

“The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has a legal obligation to conduct an effective investigation into any allegations of breach of anti-corruption legislation and international standards, including those relating to the spending by the Ministry on biros, letterhead and toners between 2015 and 2020.”