Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has asked the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas to cut the National Assembly budget of N344.85 billion, to reflect the current economic realities in the country, and cut the cost of governance.
SERAP charged them to ask President Bola Tinubu to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the reduced National Assembly budget for the approval of the National Assembly.
SERAP also asked them to promptly publish details of the National Assembly budget of N344.85billion, including the proposed spending details of the N3 billion for the Senate Car Park and N3 billion budgeted for the House of Representatives Car Park.”
In the letter dated January 13, 2024, SERAP though its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said:
“Passing appropriation bills that are inconsistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution is a fundamental breach of the constitutional oath of office by the lawmakers.”
SERAP added, “The arbitrary increase by the lawmakers of their budgetary allocation if not cut would have significant fiscal consequences and exacerbate the country’s debt crisis.”
According to SERAP, “The unilateral and self-serving increase by the lawmakers of their allocation also offends the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances and the notion of the rule of law.”
