The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has made an urgent appeal to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to consider a significant reduction in the proposed ₦9.4 billion budget allocated for travel expenses, meals, and catering for the presidency, as well as the ₦344.85 billion allocated to the National Assembly in the proposed 2025 budget.
According to recent reports, SERAP suggested that the savings from these cuts could be redirected toward addressing the nation’s widening budget deficit, which poses a significant challenge to Nigeria’s economic stability. This proposal aims to promote financial prudence and ensure that public funds are utilized to improve the welfare of citizens rather than for excessive administrative expenses.
In its appeal, the organization also called on Akpabio and Abbas to formally request President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to submit a revised supplementary budget that reflects cuts to the extravagant allocations currently outlined for both the presidency and the National Assembly. SERAP emphasized the importance of reducing wasteful expenditures to prioritize the needs of ordinary Nigerians, who are grappling with economic hardships.
In addition to its call for budget reductions, SERAP demanded a detailed and transparent breakdown of the ₦344.85 billion allocated to the National Assembly. The group requested specific information about personnel costs, salaries, allowances, and other expenditures for lawmakers. This level of transparency, SERAP argued, is essential to rebuilding public trust and ensuring that public funds are not misappropriated.
The organization also urged the legislature to take decisive action against corruption within government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). It specifically recommended summoning officials implicated in the 2021 Auditor-General’s report, which highlighted significant discrepancies and missing funds in various government accounts.
In a strongly worded letter dated December 21, 2024, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group criticized the proposed allocations as excessive and inconsistent with constitutional provisions. SERAP noted that such lavish spending is unwarranted, especially given Nigeria’s fragile economy and heavy reliance on borrowing to fund the 2025 budget.
The letter drew attention to notable increases in specific allocations, including the presidency’s budget for “rehabilitation and repairs of fixed assets,” which surged from ₦14 billion in 2024 to ₦26 billion in 2025. SERAP argued that this sharp increase highlights a pattern of repetitive and opaque budgeting practices that undermine public accountability and fiscal responsibility.
SERAP warned that it might pursue legal action if the National Assembly fails to implement measures to curb wasteful expenditures and uphold its oversight responsibilities. The group described these excessive budgetary practices as a betrayal of public trust and a violation of constitutional principles mandating accountability, efficiency, and equitable distribution of resources for the public good.
Furthermore, SERAP criticized the proposed allocations for travel and recurrent expenditures for the presidency. It highlighted that ₦8.74 billion was earmarked for domestic and international travel for President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, with a combined total of ₦11.63 billion allocated for travel-related expenses. Additional funds were set aside for food, refreshments, and other recurrent expenditures, which SERAP deemed excessive given the nation’s economic challenges.
The organization also pointed out the lack of transparency in the National Assembly’s proposed budget, urging lawmakers to disclose detailed information about its allocations. SERAP called for reforms to eliminate wasteful spending, combat corruption, and ensure that budgetary decisions prioritize the welfare of Nigerian citizens.
In its concluding remarks, SERAP emphasized the need for urgent action to align government spending with the economic realities faced by the nation. It urged the legislature and the presidency to adopt a more accountable and efficient approach to budgeting, which prioritizes the needs of the Nigerian people over administrative luxuries.
