18 / 100 Powered by Rank Math SEO SEO Score 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 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: 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 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: 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. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel. Discover more from LMSINT STORE Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe