By Abiola Olawale
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to give full account of the running costs of the National Assembly.
The group also demanded the details of the salaries of Federal lawmakers of the National Assembly.
These demands were contained in a statement issued on Saturday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
SERAP said the demand came after a recent controversy surrounding the monthly allowance of Senators.
It would be recalled that a former Senator, Shehu Sani, had claimed that senators receive a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to a N750,000 salary.
However, this was faulted by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, which said Senators received N1m monthly.
In its reaction, SERAP explained that its request was intended to “promptly end the alleged practice by the National Assembly of fixing its salaries, allowances, and running costs, in conformity with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international obligations.”
SERAP advised the NASS leaders to also put an end to the “alleged practice of paying running costs into the personal accounts of lawmakers,” and added that any “alleged misuse or mismanagement of the running costs” should be reported to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.
The statement partly reads: “We are concerned about the practice by lawmakers of fixing their salaries, allowances, and running costs, and the opacity in the spending of millions of naira in running costs by lawmakers.
“The constitutional oath of office of lawmakers requires them to ensure transparency and accountability in the exact amounts of salaries, allowances, and running costs they receive.
“The provisions of paragraph N, section 32(d) of the Third Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution make it unlawful for the National Assembly to fix its salaries, allowances, and running costs.”
SERAP noted that due accountability and the return of any “misused or mismanaged running costs collected by” NASS members would “build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law,” allowing lawmakers to effectively discharge their “constitutional and statutory responsibilities,” among others.
The statement continued, “Nigerians have a right to scrutinise how their lawmakers spend their tax money and the commonwealth. Nigerians also have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials, including lawmakers.”
“The allegations also clearly amount to members taking advantage of their entrusted public positions. Ending the reported practice by lawmakers of fixing their salaries, allowances, and running costs would improve public confidence in the integrity and honesty of the National Assembly.”
“It would show that the Senate and House of Representatives under your leadership can focus on serving the public interest of Nigerians rather than looking after themselves.”
The organisation noted that failure to act on its recommendations “within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter” would be met with “appropriate legal actions to compel you and other members of the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest.”
