Grant group asks Tinubu to step into 11-year unpaid grants dispute
- The Grant Community Decide Movement has written to President Bola Tinubu over grants it says have gone unpaid for about 11 years.
- The group wants an investigation, verification of beneficiaries and a clear timeline for payment.
- Neither the Presidency nor the Central Bank of Nigeria has publicly commented on the status of the grants.
A group of grant advocates and coordinators has asked President Bola Tinubu to intervene in a payments dispute it says has dragged on for about 11 years, warning that the delay is causing financial hardship and anxiety among its members.
The Grant Community Decide Movement (GCDM) made the appeal in a letter signed by its president, Prof. Greg Stephens. The letter was made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday.
The group says its members are spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and include grant handlers, coordinators, non-governmental organisations and cooperative heads.
What the group is asking for
GCDM wants the President to order an investigation into the status of the grants and to verify who is eligible to be paid.
It also asked for an official update from the relevant authorities, an explanation of what is being done, and a realistic timeline for resolving the matter.
The group further requested a meeting with government officials so its representatives can clarify outstanding issues and agree practical next steps.
According to ThisDay, the group said the grants were reportedly sourced from international donors more than 11 years ago. The Nation reported that GCDM leaders have claimed the funds are being held by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but that claim has not been verified.
As of the time the reports were filed, neither the Presidency nor the CBN had publicly clarified the status of the grants.
The group said the long wait has caused tension among subscribers and their families, and has even sparked disagreements within the grant community over who is responsible for the unresolved payments.
Why it matters
For ordinary Nigerians caught up in the scheme, the dispute means years of uncertainty over money they believe is owed to them.
GCDM argued that a satisfactory resolution would strengthen public confidence in government and show that citizens' concerns are taken seriously.
On politics, the group said its members would keep exercising their democratic rights responsibly and would make electoral choices based on their own convictions and assessment of public office holders. It expressed hope that a timely resolution would improve confidence in the Tinubu administration.
The group said it remains willing to engage the government through established channels.
What happens next
It is now up to the Presidency and the CBN to say whether such grants exist, who qualifies and when payment could happen. Until then, the group's members have no official answer on the money they say they are owed.
