Akpabio, Abbas urged to reduce presidency, National Assembly 2025 budget
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to slash the proposed ₦9.4 billion budget for travels, meals, and catering allocated to the presidency, as well as the ₦344.85 billion set aside for lawmakers.
According to reports, SERAP proposed redirecting the savings from these reductions to address the nation’s budget deficit.
The group also called on Akpabio and Abbas to request a revised supplementary budget from President Bola Tinubu, reflecting cuts to both the presidency’s and the National Assembly’s allocations.
In addition, SERAP demanded a detailed breakdown of the National Assembly’s ₦344.85 billion budget, including personnel costs, salaries, and allowances for lawmakers.
The organization urged the legislature to take action against corruption in government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) by summoning officials implicated in the 2021 Auditor-General’s report on missing funds.
In a letter dated December 21, 2024, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP criticized the proposed allocations as excessive, labeling them a violation of the Nigerian Constitution.
The group argued that such extravagant spending is unwarranted, especially given the country’s fragile economy and reliance on borrowing to fund the 2025 budget.
The letter also highlighted sharp increases in specific allocations, such as the presidency’s budget for “rehabilitation and repairs of fixed assets,” which grew from ₦14 billion in 2024 to ₦26 billion in 2025.
SERAP warned that it may take legal action if the National Assembly fails to curb wasteful expenditures and uphold its oversight duties. The group also condemned the government’s repetitive and opaque budgeting practices, calling them a breach of public trust.
It contrasted these practices with the economic struggles of ordinary Nigerians, emphasizing that cutting unnecessary costs could free up resources to improve public services and citizens’ welfare.
The letter further outlined specific allocations in the proposed 2025 budget, including ₦8.74 billion for domestic and international travel for President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Combined travel expenses for the two offices were reported at ₦11.63 billion, alongside additional allocations for food, refreshments, and recurrent expenditures.
SERAP criticized the National Assembly’s proposed budget for lacking transparency, urging lawmakers to disclose its details.
The organization cited constitutional provisions requiring accountability, efficiency, and equitable resource distribution for the public good. SERAP concluded by calling for urgent reforms to curb wasteful spending, combat corruption, and prioritize the welfare of Nigerian citizens in budgetary decisions.
