SERAP Sues Akpabio, Abbas Over National Assembly Budget: A Fight for Transparency and Accountability

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken a bold step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s political landscape. On February 11, 2024, SERAP filed a lawsuit against Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, over their failure to disclose, clarify, and explain details of the N344.85 billion National Assembly budget.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, aims to compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to provide information on the rationale for several budget items, such as the N6 billion budgeted for car parks.

SERAP argues that the lack of transparency in the spending of the National Assembly budget could have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of Nigerian citizens and the public interest.

SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that “Transparency and accountability in public administration is an essential element of democracy.

Transparency in the spending of the National Assembly budget would give the public a tool to hold the lawmakers accountable and protect Nigerians from potential abuses of governmental or legislative power.”

The lawsuit also seeks to clarify the details of the N8.5 billion budgeted for National Assembly liabilities and the proposed spending of N3 billion for the Senate Car Park and N3 billion for the House of Representatives Car Park in the Appropriation Act 2024.

In a time when political tensions are high, the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s political system.

As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas will respond to the allegations and whether SERAP’s efforts will lead to a more transparent and accountable National Assembly.