The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to reduce the extravagant allocations in the 2025 budget for the presidency and the National Assembly.
This appeal follows the presentation of the N49.7 trillion “Restoration” Budget, which has passed its second reading in the Senate. SERAP’s statement, released on December 21, 2024, criticised the proposed N9.4 billion for presidential travel, meals, and catering, alongside a staggering N344.85 billion allocation for the National Assembly.
SERAP argues that such spending is unnecessary and detracts from addressing Nigeria’s growing fiscal deficit, which could instead fund essential public services. Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare emphasized that excessive allocations amid an economic crisis and heavy borrowing would constitute a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution.
“The proposed huge spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially given the country’s dire economic situation,” Oluwadare said.
The organization also pointed out a significant budget increase for asset rehabilitation and repairs, rising from N14 billion in 2024 to N26 billion in 2025—a N12 billion increment.
SERAP has urged Akpabio and Abbas to request a revised supplementary appropriation bill from President Bola Tinubu that would cut these allocations. Additionally, it called on the National Assembly to publicly disclose the breakdown of its proposed N344.85 billion budget.
The agency also expressed concern over high travel spending, revealing that Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima plan to spend N8.74 billion on local and international travel in 2025. The presidency’s catering budget has been set at N546 million for food and N71 million for drinks and meals.
“It is odd, unfair, and unjust that the government and lawmakers are prioritising such expenses amidst a borrowing crisis,” Oluwadare noted.
SERAP warned that failure to address these concerns could prompt legal action to compel the National Assembly to fulfill its constitutional oversight and fiduciary duties. It highlighted key sections of the Nigerian Constitution that mandate public institutions to prioritize citizens’ welfare, abolish corrupt practices, and promote equitable resource distribution.
The organization further criticised the absence of transparency in the National Assembly’s proposed N344.85 billion budget, which includes expenses for wages, allowances, and personnel costs.
SERAP called for a reduction in unnecessary spending and urged the government to redirect funds toward improving access to basic public goods and services.
“Cutting wasteful expenditures would demonstrate a commitment to responsible governance and reflect the National Assembly’s role in amplifying the voices of Nigerians,” Oluwadare concluded.
This appeal comes as Nigeria faces a mounting debt crisis, with SERAP emphasising the urgency of fiscal responsibility to safeguard the country’s economic stability.
