SERAP ASKS NASS LEADERSHIP TO REDUCE BUDGET FOR LAWMAKERS

A group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on
 the
National Assembly leadership to reduce the budget for lawmakers. The National
 Assembly had passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill in December, increasing the
sum to ₦28.7 trillion from the initial ₦27.5 trillion presented by President
Bola Tinubu in November. In a letter dated January 13, SERAP’s deputy director,
Kolawole Oluwadare, urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the
 House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to cut the National Assembly budget of
N344.85 billion, reflecting current economic realities and reducing the cost of
 governance.

SERAP also called for a fresh supplementary appropriation bill from President
Bola Tinubu, aligning with the reduced National Assembly budget. The group urged
 the National Assembly leadership to publish details of the budget, including
the proposed spending for the Senate and House of Representatives Car Parks.

Oluwadare warned that the arbitrary increase in lawmakers’ budgetary allocation
 could worsen the country’s debt crisis and violate the principles of separation
of powers and checks and balances. The letter emphasized the need for the National
 Assembly to be more responsible and responsive to public interest, combat
waste and abuse in spending, and uphold transparency and accountability.

The group stressed that transparency in the spending of the National Assembly
 budget is crucial for democracy, enabling the public to hold lawmakers
accountable and preventing potential abuses of power. SERAP emphasized the
 constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to address concerns
raised by the increase in their budget, calling for a more accountable and
responsive approach to public administration.