Cut outrageous N228.1bn NASS budget or face legal action, SERAP to Lawan, Gbaja
*Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan
(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project, SERAP, has urged the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House
of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to “promptly cut the outrageous National
Assembly budget of N228.1bn, including the N30.17bn severance payments and
inauguration costs for members (the highest ever).”
SERAP urged them to “propose a refresh
budget for the National Assembly that would reflect the current economic
realities in the country, address the debt crisis, and prevent retrogressive
economic measures.”
The National Assembly had increased its
2023 budget from N169bn proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari to N228.1bn. The
approved budget shows an increase of about N59.1bn. The country’s budget of
N21.83tn is based on a N10.49tn revenue, and N11.34tn deficit.
In the letter dated 14 January, 2023 and
signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “It
is a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for
the members of the National Assembly to increase their own budget at a time
when some 133 million Nigerians are living in poverty.”
SERAP said, “Cutting the National Assembly
budget would reduce the growing budget deficit, address the unsustainable debt
burden, and serve the public interest.”
According to SERAP, “By increasing its own
budget, the National Assembly has unjustifiably and disproportionately reduced
the budget for UBEC. This is a travesty, especially given that Nigeria
currently has over 20 million out-of-school children, and half of all poor
people in the country are children.”
The letter, read in part: “Rather than
exercising its oversight functions to check the persistent borrowing by
President Muhammadu Buhari, and scrutinising the apparently unlawful overdrafts
and loans obtained by the Federal Government from the Central Bank of Nigeria,
the National Assembly is increasing its own budget.
“This outrageous waste of public money
would substantially increase the cost of governance, and exacerbate the debt
crisis. It is unlawful, and unfair to the Nigerian people.
“We would be grateful if the recommended
measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this
letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate
legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our
request in the public interest.
“The budget should reflect national
development priorities, and not serve as a tool to satisfy the lifestyle of
lawmakers or provide them with severance payments or parting gifts.
“SERAP is concerned that the National Assembly
budget of N228.1bn is higher than the statutory transfer to the Universal Basic
Education Commission, UBEC, which is N103.3bn.
“The increase in the National Assembly
budget, including the unnecessary proposed spending of N30.17bn on ‘severance
payments’ and ‘inauguration expenses’ is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian
Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights
obligations.
“It is unjustifiable and unreasonable for
the National Assembly to arbitrarily increase its own budget when the Federal
Government and many of the 36 states are clearly in debt distress or at high
risk of debt distress.
“The National Assembly budget of N228.1bn
would increase the country’s borrowing and debt crisis. Growing debt burdens
and debt repayment difficulties will have negative impacts on the ability of
poor and vulnerable Nigerians to enjoy basic socio-economic rights.
“Long-term unsustainable debt can be a
barrier to the government’s ability to mobilize resources for human rights, and
may lead to taxes and user fees that impact negatively on poor and vulnerable
Nigerians.
“The leadership and members of the National
Assembly should properly discharge their constitutional and fiduciary duties to
Nigerians by ensuring judicious spending of public funds, especially given the
current economic and financial realities of Nigeria.
“Cutting the budget would show that the
National Assembly can discharge its constitutional responsibility of amplifying
the voices of Nigerians. It will also show that the body is acting in the best
interest of the people.
“Nigerians have a right to honest and
faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public
officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry. All those who hold the
strings of political power and power over spending of Nigeria's commonwealth
ought not to use their entrusted position for personal gain.
“SERAP also urges you to request President
Muhammadu Buhari to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects
the reduced National Assembly budget for the approval of the National Assembly.
“Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian
Constitution of 1999 [as amended] provides that, ‘the security and welfare of
the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“Under Section 16(1)(a)(b), the National
Assembly has the obligations to ‘harness the resources of the nation and
promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant
economy’, and to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every
citizen.’
“Nigeria has also ratified the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recognize legally enforceable
economic and social rights, such as the rights to education, health, safe food
and clean water, security, and shelter.”
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