The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court to: “compel governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Delta State to explain the disparity between budgetary allocations to primary education and the reality that several of the around 1,124 primary schools across the State are in shambles, and with very poor teaching facilities.” According to SERAP’s lawsuit, “tens of thousands of Nigerian children are being left behind in Delta state and their futures put in jeopardy. These children are being short-changed and they deserve to know how much exactly has the state government spent between 2015 and 2019, on their education.” Joined as Defendants in the suit are the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). In the suit number FHC/L/CS/803/2019 filed last Friday before the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP argued that “The refusal by the governor, UBEC and SUBEB to respond to SERAP’s FOI requests can only be construed to mean denial of the information sought. We shouldn’t have to ask for the information on spending on primary schools in the state. The poor conditions of primary schools across the state would seem to suggest that the government has abandoned poor children in Delta state.” EduCeleb.com recalls that a viral video showing Success Adegor, who was sent out of her school for not paying some levy in March had generated outrage over the poor state of primary schools in Delta State. Following the video, the government suspended the headmistress of the school. SERAP, in separate Freedom of Information requests to the governor, UBEC and Delta SUBEB in April said, “The evidence of education deficit in the state is further buttressed by the case of Success Adegor, who was sent home because her parents could not pay the illegal school fee/levy of N900 and the insufficient and poor-quality education infrastructure of Okotie-Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele.” The suit read in part: “We seek an order of the court granting leave to apply for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus compelling governor Okowa, UBEC and SUBEB to provide to SERAP details of disbursement and spending of UBEC funds disbursed to the Delta State government.” “The governor, UBEC and SUBEB have nothing to lose if the information is released to SERAP and members of the public. It is in the interest of justice that the information be released. Unless the reliefs sought herein are granted, the governor, UBEC and SUBEB will continue to be in breach of the Freedom of Information Act, and other constitutional and statutory responsibilities.” “The information is needed to verify and establish the truth about the spending on education by the government, for the purposes of transparency and accountability. There must be accountability for the massive budgetary allocations to primary education in the state, including the funds provided by UBEC.