SERAP Urges Budget Cuts for Presidency and National Assembly to Address Economic Challenges

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to slash the proposed budgets for the presidency and the National Assembly. SERAP highlighted the presidency’s N9.4 billion allocation for travels, meals, and catering, alongside the National Assembly’s N344.85 billion budget, urging that the savings be redirected to reduce Nigeria’s budget deficit.

SERAP’s Key Requests

1. Cut Unnecessary Expenses: SERAP recommended that President Bola Tinubu submit a revised supplementary budget reflecting significant reductions in non-essential spending by the presidency and lawmakers.
2. Promote Transparency: The organization demanded a detailed breakdown of the National Assembly’s N344.85 billion budget, particularly personnel costs, salaries, and allowances.
3. Address Corruption: SERAP called for public hearings to investigate missing funds in various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as outlined in the 2021 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.

Constitutional Violations and Public Interest

In a letter dated December 21, 2024, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the group stated that excessive spending contradicts the Nigerian Constitution. The organization emphasized that such allocations are unjustifiable, given the country’s economic challenges and reliance on borrowing to fund the 2025 budget.

Unnecessary Increases in Budget Allocations

SERAP criticized the proposed increase in the presidency’s budget for “rehabilitation and repairs of fixed assets,” which jumped from N14 billion in 2024 to N26 billion in 2025. Similarly, it highlighted questionable allocations, including:

• N8.74 billion for local and international trips by President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
• N546.2 million for food and catering supplies.
• N71.4 million for refreshments and meals.

The total proposed spending for the offices of the president and vice president amounts to N11.6 billion.

Call for Accountability

SERAP urged the National Assembly to fulfill its constitutional obligations to ensure prudent use of resources. This includes reducing unnecessary expenditures, combating corruption, and addressing Nigeria’s debt crisis. Persistent borrowing, the group argued, is unsustainable and unfair to citizens.

Recommendations to Lawmakers

• Reallocate funds to improve access to essential public goods and services.
• Demonstrate commitment to transparency and public interest by reducing the National Assembly’s proposed N344.85 billion budget.
• Hold MDAs accountable for mismanagement and corruption.

SERAP warned that failure to act could result in legal action to compel the National Assembly to discharge its constitutional duties.

Constitutional Obligations

SERAP cited key provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, including:

• Section 14(2)(b): Security and welfare of citizens as the primary purpose of government.
• Section 16(1): Promotion of national prosperity and efficient resource utilization.
• Section 15(5): Obligation to abolish corruption and abuse of power.

Conclusion

By cutting wasteful spending and addressing systemic corruption, the National Assembly can set an example of good governance and ensure that public funds are used to improve the lives of Nigerians.

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