The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas to reduce the N344.85 billion budgeted for the National Assembly for this year, to reflect the economic realities in the country.
SERAP made this call to the leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) in a letter dated 13 January 2024 and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
In the letter, the non-governmental organisation expressed concern over the 70% increase in the NASS 2024 budget from the N197 billion President Bola Tinubu proposed for the lawmakers in the 2024 budget proposal.
SERAP noted that the arbitrary increase in the budgetary allocation of the NASS budget by lawmakers poses significant fiscal consequences and would exacerbate the country’s debt crisis.
Furthermore, the NGO sought clarification from the leadership of the nation’s bicameral legislature over unclear allocations in its budget, such as the N8.5 billion for ‘National Assembly Liabilities’ and the N3 billion budgeted to buy books for the National Assembly Library.
In the letter, SERAP urged the NASS leadership to request that the President present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill that reflects a reduced National Assembly budget for approval by the lawmakers, within seven days.
SERAP further disclosed that it would take appropriate legal action against the leadership of the federal legislature and the National Assembly if the request to slash the 2024 NASS budget is not adhered to within 7 days.
