Abuja, Dec. 22, 2024 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the National Assembly to cut the bogus budget allocations for the presidency and National Assembly contained in the 2025 federal budget.
SERAP made the demand in a letter to the National Assembly dated Dec.21 2024.
It said the N9.4 billion earmarked for travel, meals, and catering for the presidency and the N344.85 billion proposed the for lawmakers in the budget were extravagant.
SERAP said these figures reflected unnecessary spending that could be redirected to address Nigeria’s growing budget deficit and improve public services.
Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director, expressed the organisation’s concerns, stressing that: “Any proposed unnecessary spending by the presidency and the National Assembly would amount to a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].
“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 advised the leadership of the National Assembly to request President Bola Tinubu to present a revised supplementary appropriation bill reflecting reduced budgets for the presidency and the National Assembly.
It also urged the National Assembly to disclose the breakdown of the allocations in the proposed budget publicly.
Among the notable concerns is the sharp increase in allocations for asset rehabilitation and repairs. While N14 billion was allocated for these purposes in 2024, the 2025 budget proposes N26 billion — an increase of N12 billion.
SERAP also flagged excessive allocations for travel expenses, revealing that the presidency plans to spend N8.74 billion on local and international trips by Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“The Office of the President proposes N7.01 billion for travel and transport expenses, including N873.8 million for local travel and N6.14 billion for international travel,” the letter disclosed.
The agency noted that Shettima’s travel budget alone stands at N1.73 billion.
In addition, the presidency’s catering budget raises eyebrows, with N546 million allocated for foodstuffs and N71 million for refreshments and meals.
“Many Nigerians will find it quite odd, unfair, and unjust that the government and lawmakers are spending so much on these items in the middle of a public borrowing crisis.”
SERAP also called for greater scrutiny of the National Assembly’s N344.85 billion budget, including salaries, allowances, and personnel costs.
“The National Assembly appears to budget the same amounts year after year for identical items, which raises questions about accountability and fiscal responsibility,”
SERAP also called on the National Assembly to hold accountable all corrupt ministries, departments, and agencies.
It also urged the lawmakers to investigate mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds.
SERAP threatened to take legal action if the National Assembly failed to act on these demands.
“We would consider appropriate legal measures to compel the National Assembly to fulfil its constitutional oversight duties,” it said.
