The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to reduce the proposed N9.4 billion for travel, meals, and catering for the presidency.
The group also urged a cut to the N344.85 billion budget allocated to lawmakers, directing the savings toward addressing Nigeria’s budget deficit.
In a letter dated December 21, 2024, SERAP and signed by it’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that such cuts are essential in light of the country’s fiscal crisis.
The group warned that the planned expenditure on travel and amenities is unjustifiable amid rising public debt. “The proposed spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially given Nigeria’s dire economic situation.”
It further demanded that Akpabio and Abbas request President Bola Tinubu to present a supplementary appropriation reflecting the reductions and called for transparency in the National Assembly’s budget breakdown, particularly regarding salaries and allowances.
The presidency’s budget includes N8.74 billion for domestic and international travel, while the National Assembly’s budget stands at N344.85 billion, a figures that SERAP believes demonstrate a lack of political will to address governance inefficiencies. “The National Assembly has a constitutional duty to reduce wasteful spending and improve transparency,” said Oluwadare.
Failure to act, SERAP warned, could lead to legal action to compel compliance with constitutional responsibilities and safeguard public trust.
