In a bold move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s legislative framework, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against key legislative figures over the opaque N344.85 billion National Assembly budget for the year 2024. The legal action targets Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and the National Assembly itself, demanding a detailed disclosure of budget allocations, including a controversial N6 billion earmarked for the construction of two car parks.
Filed under the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/178/2024 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP’s petition seeks a judicial mandate to compel Akpabio and Abbas to shed light on the specifics of the N344.85 billion budget as outlined in the Appropriation Act 2024. The organization is particularly interested in unraveling the details behind the N8.5 billion allocated for ‘National Assembly liabilities’ and the rationale for allocating N3 billion each for the Senate and House of Representatives car parks.
SERAP’s litigation emphasizes the constitutional right of Nigerians to be informed about the spending of public funds by their elected representatives. The lawsuit argues that transparency in the legislative budgetary process is crucial for enabling public scrutiny, preventing mismanagement, and ensuring that allocated funds are used in the best interest of the citizens.
The lawsuit posits that the shroud of secrecy surrounding the National Assembly’s budgetary allocations runs counter to the principles of democratic governance and public accountability. It contends that without transparency, the potential for waste, abuse, and diversion of public funds increases, undermining the public’s trust in their legislative institutions.
SERAP asserts that by making the National Assembly’s budget details public, lawmakers would be held to a higher standard of accountability, thereby enhancing the integrity of public administration and reinforcing the democratic contract between the government and its citizens. The organization also highlights that transparency in legislative spending is not just a matter of good governance but a constitutional obligation to ensure that oversight functions are effectively carried out, and governmental power is exercised responsibly.
As the lawsuit progresses, no hearing date has been set, but the case has already sparked a significant public discourse on the need for greater legislative transparency in Nigeria. The outcome of SERAP’s legal challenge could set a precedent for future governance reforms, aligning Nigeria’s legislative practices with international standards of transparency and accountability.
