The leadership of the National Assembly has been requested to reduce the budget for the lawmakers in accordance with the present financial conditions.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asked Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila and Senate President Ahmad Lawan to “quickly cut the outrageous National Assembly budget of N228.1bn, including the highest-ever N30.17bn severance payments and inauguration costs for members.”
Kolawole Oluwadare, the deputy director of SERAP, says that they need to “propose a new budget to the National Assembly that reflects the current economic situation in the country, deals with the debt problem, and stops economic policies from going backwards.”
President Muhammadu Buhari’s N169 billion 2023 budget proposal was enhanced to N228.1 billion by the National Assembly. There is an increase of nearly N59.1 billion in the authorised budget. The N21.89 trillion national budget is made up of a N11.34 trillion deficit and N10.49 trillion in revenue.
However, the rights organisation claimed that the National Assembly members’ decision to raise their own budget at a time when almost 133 million Nigerians are living in poverty is a serious breach of the public trust and the constitutional oath of office.
The statement added, “Cutting the National Assembly budget would serve the public interest, solve the unsustainable debt burden, and reduce the expanding budget deficit.”
“The National Assembly has unfairly and disproportionately decreased the funding for UBEC while raising its own budget.” This is outrageous, especially considering that half of Nigeria’s poor population is made up of children, and there are currently over 20 million school-age children who are not attending.
“The National Assembly is raising its own budget rather than using its oversight powers to oversee President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued borrowing and scrutinise the ostensibly illegal overdrafts and loans obtained by the Federal Government from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
“This egregious misuse of tax dollars would drive up the cost of running the government and worsen the debt problem.” It is against the law and unjust to Nigerians.
“We appreciate it if the suggested actions are carried out within seven days of the letter’s receipt and/or publication.” If by then you have not responded to our request, SERAP will take all necessary legal steps to compel you and the National Assembly to do so in the public interest.
