The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to reduce the proposed budgets for the Presidency and National Assembly.
SERAP specifically urged the reduction of the proposed N9.4 billion budget for travel, refreshments, and meals for the Presidency, as well as the proposed N344.85 billion budget for the lawmakers. The organization proposed that the savings from these reductions be used to address the budget deficit.
In a statement, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, emphasized that unnecessary spending by the Presidency and National Assembly would be a fundamental breach of the Constitution. The organization urged Akpabio and Abbas to request President Bola Tinubu to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill reflecting the proposed adjustments.
SERAP also demanded that the National Assembly disclose the detailed breakdown of its budget, including personnel costs, salaries, and allowances of lawmakers. Furthermore, the organization called on Akpabio and Abbas to invite the heads of allegedly corrupt Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to explain the whereabouts of billions of naira of public funds.
The organization expressed concerns that the proposed huge spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially given the country’s dire economic situation and the level of proposed borrowing to fund the 2025 budget.
SERAP threatened to take legal action if the National Assembly fails to reduce unnecessary spending and tackle systemic corruption in MDAs. The organization emphasized that approving unnecessary spending would be a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office.
