The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the Senate President, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Tajudeen Abbas, for their failure to provide transparency regarding the N344.85 billion National Assembly budget.
SERAP accuses the Assembly leadership of neglecting to clarify various budget items, including the allocation of N6 billion for two car parks.
The lawsuit, filed as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/178/2024 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeks an order of mandamus to compel Akpabio and Abbas to disclose details of the National Assembly budget in the Appropriation Act 2024.
Additionally, SERAP demands clarification on the N8.5 billion budgeted for ‘National Assembly liabilities’ and the proposed spending of N3 billion each for the ‘Senate Car Park’ and ‘House of Representatives Car Park.’
The organization asserts that transparency regarding public funds spent by the National Assembly is essential for citizens’ scrutiny and participation in governance. The lawsuit highlights the increased allocation of N344.48 billion to the National Assembly in the 2024 budget, representing over 70 percent of the proposed allocation by President Bola Tinubu.
The lawsuit outlines the detailed budget items, including allocations for various committees, infrastructure projects, and administrative expenses. SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, filed the suit on behalf of the organization. No hearing date has been scheduled yet.
