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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to significantly reduce the lavish budget allocations for the presidency and National Assembly.
The Association argued that the ₦9.4 billion earmarked for travel, meals, and catering for the presidency, alongside the proposed ₦344.85 billion for lawmakers in the 2025 budget, reflects unnecessary spending that could be diverted to address Nigeria’s growing budget deficit and improve public services.
Speaking via a letter dated 21 December 2024 but released on Sunday, the agency’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, expressed the organisation’s concerns,
SERAP said, “Any proposed unnecessary spending by the presidency and the National Assembly would amount to a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].
“The proposed huge spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially given the country’s dire economic situation and the level of proposed borrowing to fund the 2025 budget.”
The organisation urged Akpabio and Abbas to request President Bola Tinubu to present a revised supplementary appropriation bill reflecting reduced budgets for the presidency and the National Assembly.
They further called on the National Assembly to publicly disclose the proposed budget breakdown, pressing lawmakers to commit to reducing the ₦344.85 billion allocated for 2025.
Among the notable concerns is the sharp increase in allocations for asset rehabilitation and repairs. While ₦14 billion was allocated for these purposes in 2024, the 2025 budget proposes ₦26 billion, an increase of ₦12 billion.
SERAP also flagged excessive allocations for travel expenses, revealing that the presidency plans to spend ₦8.74 billion on local and international trips by Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“The Office of the President proposes ₦7.01 billion for travel and transport expenses, including ₦873.8 million for local travel and ₦6.14 billion for international travel,” the letter disclosed.
The agency noted that Shettima’s travel budget alone stands at ₦1.73 billion.
In addition, the presidency’s catering budget raises eyebrows, with N546 million allocated for foodstuffs and ₦71 million for refreshments and meals.
“Many Nigerians will find it quite odd, unfair, and unjust that the government and lawmakers are spending so much on these items in the middle of a public borrowing crisis.
“The National Assembly appears to budget the same amounts year after year for identical items, which raises questions about accountability and fiscal responsibility,” the letter highlighted.
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