By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has faulted the 2025 budget presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.
SERAP noted that the budget is laced with some extravagant allocations reflecting unnecessary spending that could be redirected to address Nigeria’s growing budget deficit and improve public services.
Recall that the Senate passed the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ Budget for a second reading on Thursday after various deliberations.
SERAP’s requests were made public in a letter dated 21 December 2024 but released on Sunday and highlighted what he called the N9.4 billion earmarked for travel, meals, and catering alongside some proposed N344.85 billion for lawmakers in the 2025 budget.
The organization’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, expressed the organisation’s concerns, stating: “Any proposed unnecessary spending by the presidency and the National Assembly would amount to a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].
“The proposed huge spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially given the country’s dire economic situation and the level of proposed borrowing to fund the 2025 budget.”
The organisation urged the leadership of the National Assembly to request President Bola Tinubu to present a revised supplementary appropriation bill reflecting reduced budgets for the presidency and the National Assembly.
SERAP further called on the National Assembly to disclose the breakdown of the proposed budget publicly, urging the lawmakers to commit to reducing the N344.85 billion allocated for 2025.
Among the notable concerns, according to the body, is the sharp increase in allocations for asset rehabilitation and repairs. While N14 billion was allocated for these purposes in 2024, the 2025 budget proposes N26 billion — an increase of N12 billion.
SERAP also flagged ehat it called excessive allocations for travel expenses, revealing that the presidency plans to spend N8.74 billion on local and international trips by Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“The Office of the President proposes N7.01 billion for travel and transport expenses, including N873.8 million for local travel and N6.14 billion for international travel,” the letter disclosed.
The agency noted that Shettima’s travel budget alone stands at N1.73 billion.
“Many Nigerians will find it quite odd, unfair, and unjust that the government and lawmakers are spending so much on these items in the middle of a public borrowing crisis,” Oluwadare noted.
SERAP also called for greater scrutiny of the National Assembly’s N344.85 billion budget, including salaries, allowances, and personnel costs.
“The National Assembly appears to budget the same amounts year after year for identical items, which raises questions about accountability and fiscal responsibility,” the letter highlighted.
Moreover, SERAP called on the National Assembly to hold corrupt ministries, departments, and agencies accountable, urging lawmakers to investigate mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds.
Should the National Assembly fail to act on these recommendations, SERAP has vowed to pursue legal action.
“We would consider appropriate legal measures to compel the National Assembly to fulfil its constitutional oversight duties,” Oluwadare warned.
SERAP’s stance draws from constitutional provisions that prioritise the welfare and security of Nigerians.
“Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” the letter stressed.
