The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to reduce excessive budget allocations for the presidency and the National Assembly.
The budget was presented on Wednesday, and the Senate approved the N49.7 trillion ‘Restoration’ Budget for a second reading on Thursday after extensive discussions.
In a letter dated December 21, 2024, but released on Sunday, SERAP highlighted the N9.4 billion allocated for travel, meals, and catering for the presidency, along with a proposed N344.85 billion for lawmakers in the 2025 budget. The organization argues that these expenditures are unnecessary and could be redirected to mitigate Nigeria’s growing budget deficit and enhance public services.
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, expressed concerns over the proposed spending, stating, “Any unnecessary expenditure by the presidency and the National Assembly would violate the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
He emphasized that such spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially considering the country’s severe economic challenges and the proposed borrowing to finance the 2025 budget.
SERAP urged Akpabio and Abbas to ask President Bola Tinubu to submit a revised supplementary appropriation bill that reflects reduced budgets for the presidency and the National Assembly. They also called for a public breakdown of the proposed budget and urged lawmakers to commit to cutting the N344.85 billion earmarked for 2025.
Among the notable concerns raised was a significant increase in allocations for asset rehabilitation and repairs, with the 2025 budget proposing N26 billion—up from N14 billion in 2024—an increase of N12 billion.
The organization flagged the excessive travel expenses, revealing that the presidency plans to allocate N8.74 billion for local and international trips for Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. The Office of the President proposes N7.01 billion for travel and transport, which includes N873.8 million for local travel and N6.14 billion for international trips. Shettima’s travel budget alone is set at N1.73 billion.
Additionally, the presidency’s catering budget raised eyebrows, with N546 million allocated for food and N71 million for refreshments. Oluwadare remarked that many Nigerians would find it inappropriate for the government and lawmakers to spend such amounts amidst a public borrowing crisis.
SERAP also called for more scrutiny into the National Assembly’s N344.85 billion budget, including salaries and allowances, noting that the same amounts appear to be budgeted year after year for similar items, raising concerns about accountability.
Furthermore, SERAP urged the National Assembly to ensure that corrupt ministries, departments, and agencies are held accountable and called for investigations into the mismanagement of public funds.
Should the National Assembly neglect these recommendations, SERAP has pledged to pursue legal action. Oluwadare warned, “We would consider appropriate legal measures to compel the National Assembly to fulfill its constitutional oversight duties.”
SERAP’s position is rooted in constitutional provisions that prioritize the welfare and security of Nigerians, emphasizing that “Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”