Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Senate President, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, to reject the proposal by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allocate N15 billion for constructing a residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima. SERAP also urges Akpabio to exercise the Senate’s oversight role and reject the N2.8 billion allocated for FCTA publicity and other potentially wasteful spending in the 2023 supplementary budget and the 2024 budget proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
In a letter dated December 2, 2023, signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization contends that spending N15 billion on the vice president’s residence violates the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption and human rights obligations.
SERAP emphasizes the Senate’s constitutional duty to ensure that Wike’s proposed expenditure aligns with constitutional provisions and public officials’ adherence to the rule of law. The organization urges the Senate to fulfill its oversight function, particularly in addressing the country’s debt crisis, by rejecting unnecessary spending catering to the personal comfort of public officials.
Expressing concern about the potential approval of the N15 billion expenditure amid the Federal Government’s plans to allocate a significant portion of the 2024 budget to debt service costs and borrowing, SERAP warns of potential legal action if the Senate fails to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities.
SERAP also calls on the Senate to refer allegations of corruption in the previous N7 billion allocated for the vice president’s residence construction to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The organization emphasizes the Senate’s role in compelling compliance with the constitution and international obligations, asserting that the National Assembly must prevent the executive from using the national budget for unnecessary personal comfort of officials.
In conclusion, SERAP insists that cutting the N15 billion allocation for the vice president’s residence from the FCTA budget would align with the constitutional oath of office, promoting efficient and lawful spending of public funds. The organization highlights Wike’s plan to spend N15 billion despite the recent allocation of N2.5 billion for the vice president’s residence renovation in the supplementary budget already passed by the National Assembly and signed by President Tinubu. The House of Representatives reportedly approved the N15 billion plan, alongside another N3 billion for the vice president’s residence renovation in Lagos State, as well as N2.8 billion for FCTA publicity.