Account for NASS running costs, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to disclose and account for the monthly running costs being paid to and received by members of the National Assembly.

SERAP also urged them to promptly end the alleged practice by the National Assembly of fixing its own salaries, allowances and running costs, in conformity with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), and the country’s international obligations.

The organisation urged them to end the alleged practice of paying running costs into the personal accounts of lawmakers, and to refer the alleged misuse or mismanagement of the running costs to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.

In the letter at the weekend, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said they were concerned about the practice by the lawmakers of fixing their salaries, allowances and running costs, and the opacity in the spending of millions of naira in running costs by lawmakers.

SERAP said the constitutional oath of office of lawmakers required them to ensure transparency and accountability in their salaries, allowances, and running costs.

It noted that the provisions of Paragraph N, Section 32(d) of the Third Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution made it unlawful for the National Assembly to fix its own salaries, allowances, and running costs.

“The allegations that members of the National Assembly are fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional oath of office and the object and purpose of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party,” the organisation said.

SERAP noted that accounting for and returning any misused or mismanaged running costs collected by members of the National Assembly would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.

“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 fixing their own 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,” SERAP said.