SERAP Sues National Assembly Leadership Over Lawmakers’ Running Costs

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the leadership of the National Assembly, challenging what it calls the unlawful practice of setting lawmakers’ running costs. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, are named in the suit.

SERAP alleges that both leaders have failed to stop the practice of the National Assembly determining its allowances and running costs, and have not provided transparency regarding the monthly running costs paid to members.

In a statement released on Friday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, announced that the lawsuit was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja the previous Friday. The legal action follows claims by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that lawmakers set their salaries and allowances independently, bypassing the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).

The lawsuit seeks an order of mandamus to compel Akpabio and Abbas to end the National Assembly’s practice of setting its remuneration and allowances, which are referred to as “running costs.” Additionally, SERAP is requesting an order to force the disclosure of the exact amounts paid as running costs and how these funds are spent.

SERAP argues that this practice violates the Nigerian Constitution and Federal Government Financial Regulations, which prohibit public funds from being deposited into private accounts.