The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for a significant reduction in the Nigerian presidency’s proposed budget for 2025, particularly the N9.4 billion allocated for travel, meals, and catering. SERAP is also urging the National Assembly to scale back its N344.85 billion budget, in a move to address Nigeria’s growing budget deficit and national debt crisis.
In a letter dated December 21, 2024, SERAP directed its appeal to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The letter emphasized that the proposed budget items for both the presidency and the National Assembly could be better used to alleviate the country’s pressing economic challenges.
According to Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy director, any unnecessary spending at this time would violate the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates that public funds be used for the welfare and security of the people. “The proposed huge spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially in the face of the country’s dire economic situation,” said Oluwadare.
SERAP’s letter pointed out that Nigeria is currently facing significant borrowing to fund its 2025 budget. The organization argued that money spent on extravagant travel and catering for top government officials could be better spent on improving basic public services for ordinary Nigerians.
“Many Nigerians will find it quite odd, unfair, and unjust that the government and lawmakers are spending so much money on many of these items in the middle of a public borrowing crisis,” the letter read.
One of the key demands from SERAP is that the National Assembly disclose a detailed breakdown of its proposed budget of N344.85 billion. Currently, the specifics of the spending are unclear, and SERAP has asked Akpabio and Abbas to make this information public. This call for transparency reflects growing concerns about the mismanagement of public funds, especially following the release of a report by the Auditor-General of the Federation in 2021, which highlighted missing billions in government spending.
“The National Assembly has transparency obligations to disclose the details and breakdown of the proposed budget for the lawmakers,” the letter states. “We urge you to publicly commit that the National Assembly will reduce and not increase its proposed budget of N344.85 billion for 2025.”
The presidency’s proposed budget for 2025 includes N8.74 billion for travel expenses, a significant portion of which is allocated for international trips. The breakdown shows that the Office of the President has allocated N7 billion for transport, including over N6 billion for international travel. Meanwhile, the Vice President’s Office has a proposed N1.7 billion for travel expenses.
SERAP argues that such allocations are excessive and should be reduced. “The combined total allocation for the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President is N11.6 billion,” said the letter. “This includes N546 million for foodstuff and catering materials and N71 million for refreshments and meals. These expenses are unacceptable in the context of Nigeria’s current fiscal crisis.”
While the proposed budget for the National Assembly is over N344 billion, SERAP has expressed concern over the lack of detailed information on how this money will be spent. Given the country’s fiscal constraints, there are calls for lawmakers to demonstrate restraint and reduce unnecessary costs.
“The National Assembly seems to budget the same amounts in the 2025 budget for the same budget items in the 2024 budget,” the letter notes. “It would be a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for the members of the National Assembly to approve unnecessary spending for themselves and the presidency.”
SERAP’s appeal to Akpabio and Abbas comes at a time when there is growing public frustration over the cost of governance in Nigeria. With the country’s debt increasing and basic services like healthcare and education remaining underfunded, many Nigerians have expressed outrage over what they see as wasteful spending by top government officials.
“Cutting unnecessary spending by the presidency and the National Assembly would show that the National Assembly can discharge its constitutional responsibility of amplifying the voices of Nigerians,” the letter says. “It will also show that the body is acting in the best interest of the people.”
The organization has warned that if the proposed budgets are not revised, it will consider legal action to ensure that the National Assembly fulfills its constitutional duties of oversight and responsible budgeting.
SERAP has also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to take action against corruption within federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), which have been flagged for mismanagement of public funds. According to a report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, billions of naira remain unaccounted for in some MDAs.
“SERAP also urges you to invite the heads of the alleged corrupt ministries, departments, and agencies to explain the whereabouts of the missing billions of naira of public funds,” said Oluwadare. “Holding to account the MDAs responsible for the missing billions of naira of public funds would contribute to addressing the widespread and systemic corruption in MDAs.”
