Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to promptly reduce the National Assembly budget of N344.85 billion, aligning it with the current economic realities in the country.
SERAP is encouraging them to request President Bola Tinubu to present a revised supplementary appropriation bill reflecting the reduced National Assembly budget for the approval of the National Assembly. The organization is also advocating for the prompt publication of detailed information on the N344.85 billion National Assembly budget, including proposed spending details for specific allocations such as the N3 billion designated for the Senate Car Park and the N3 billion budgeted for the House of Representatives Car Park.
In a letter dated January 13, 2024, signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization emphasized that passing appropriation bills inconsistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution constitutes a fundamental breach of the lawmakers’ constitutional oath of office.
SERAP expressed concern that the arbitrary increase in the National Assembly’s budget by the lawmakers could have severe fiscal consequences and exacerbate the country’s debt crisis. The organization asserted that the unilateral and self-serving increase violated principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, and the rule of law.
The letter called for transparency and accountability in the spending of the National Assembly budget, emphasizing that it is essential for democracy. SERAP emphasized that Nigerians have the right to scrutinize how lawmakers spend public funds, especially given the challenging economic realities and the impact of the removal of the fuel subsidy on vulnerable citizens.
SERAP urged Akpabio and Abbas to cut the N344.48 billion National Assembly budget within seven days. If there is no response, SERAP stated its intention to take legal action to compel compliance in the public interest. The organization also called for clarification on specific budget items, including the N8.5 billion allocated for ‘National Assembly liabilities’ and the nature of such liabilities, as well as details on the N225 million budgeted for the National Assembly E-Library and the N3 billion allocated for books for the National Assembly Library.