SERAP calls for reduction in 2024 NASS budget amid economic challenges

By Sodiq Adelakun

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to reduce the 2024 National Assembly budget of N344.85 billion.

In a statement issued by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation emphasised the need to cut the cost of governance in light of the current economic realities in the country.

SERAP criticised the arbitrary increase of the 2024 Budget by the National Assembly and urged them to request President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill that reflects a reduced National Assembly allocation.

The group questioned the allocation of N225 million for the National Assembly E-Library and N3 billion for books for the National Assembly Library, as well as the N12.1 billion “take-off grant” for the National Assembly Library.

According to SERAP, the N344.48 billion budget by the National Assembly is a violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.

The organisation highlighted that the new budgetary allocation is over 70 percent of the N197 billion proposed by President Bola Tinubu for the lawmakers in the budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly.

SERAP stated that the N344.48 billion budget is the highest-ever allocation to the National Assembly, representing an increase of about N147 billion. In conclusion, SERAP called on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to reduce the National Assembly budget in order to avoid exacerbating the country’s debt crisis and to align with the current economic situation.

“The arbitrary increase by the lawmakers of their own budgetary allocation if not cut would have significant fiscal consequences and exacerbate the country’s debt crisis.

“SERAP urges you to clarify why N225 million is budgeted for the National Assembly E-Library and N3 billion is budgeted to buy books for the National Assembly Library while the ‘take-off grant’ for the National Assembly Library is N12.1 billion.

“The budget of N344.48 billion by members of the National Assembly is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.

“According to our information, the National Assembly increased its own allocation in the 2024 budget to N344.48 billion. The new budgetary allocation to the National Assembly is over 70 per cent of the N197 billion proposed by President Bola Tinubu for the lawmakers in the budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly.

“The N344.48 billion National Assembly budget, which is an increase of about N147 billion, is reportedly the highest-ever budgetary allocation to the National Assembly,” SERAP said.

The development comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, two weeks ago, signed the N28.7 trillion 2024 budget into law.

Recall that the lawmakers had raised the N27.5 trillion 2024 budget proposed by President Tinubu to N28.7 trillion.