Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the
\nSenate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives
\nMr Femi Gbajabiamila to “use their good offices to urgently probe and
\nrefer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies allegations that N4.4
\nbillion of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing,
\nmisappropriated, diverted or stolen, as documented in three audited
\nreports by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.”<\/p>\n
In the open letter dated 30 January 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy
\ndirector Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “By exercising
\nstrong and effective leadership in this matter, the National Assembly
\ncan show Nigerians that the legislative body is a proper and accountable
\nwatchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able
\nto hold both itself and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to
\naccount in the management of public resources.”<\/p>\n
SERAP said: “If not satisfactorily addressed, these allegations would
\nalso undermine public confidence in the ability of the National Assembly
\nto exercise its constitutional and oversight responsibilities to prevent
\nand combat corruption, and to ensure the public interest, transparency
\nand accountability in the management of public resources.”<\/p>\n
SERAP expressed concern that “these allegations of corruption,
\nmismanagement and misappropriation of public funds amount to fundamental
\nbreaches of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and the
\ncountry’s international obligations, including under the UN Convention
\nagainst Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and
\nCombating Corruption.”<\/p>\n
The letter, read in part: “Any failure to promptly, thoroughly and
\nindependently investigate these serious allegations, prosecute suspected
\nperpetrators, and recover missing public funds and assets would
\nundermine public trust in the ability of the leadership of the National
\nAssembly to ensure probity, transparency and accountability in the
\nmanagement of public funds.”<\/p>\n
“The Auditor-General noted in his 2015 report that the National Assembly
\naccount was spent N8,800,000.00 as unauthorised overdraft, contrary to
\nFinancial Regulations 710. The National Assembly also reportedly spent
\nN115,947,016.00 without any documents. Another N158,193,066.00 spent as
\ncash advances to 17 staff between January and June 2015 is yet to be
\nretired.”<\/p>\n
“The Senate reportedly spent N186,866,183.42 to organise Senate Retreat
\nand Pre-Valedictory Session for the 7th Senate, although the money was
\nmeant to pay vehicle loan. The Senate also reportedly spent
\nN15,964,193.63 as bank charges between July and December, 2015, contrary
\nto Financial Regulations 734.”<\/p>\n
“The House of Representatives also reportedly spent N624,377,503.30 to
\nbuy 48 Utility Vehicles. However, 14 vehicles were not supplied. The
\nHouse also failed to make the 34 vehicles supplied available for
\nverification. Similarly, the House spent N499,666,666.00 as cash
\nadvances to staff to carry out various assignments but has failed to
\nretire the money.”<\/p>\n
“The House of Representatives also reportedly paid N70,560,000.00 as
\novertime and ‘special’ allowances to officials who are not legislative
\naides between November and December 2015 without any authority.”<\/p>\n
“The National Assembly Service Commission reportedly failed to remit
\nN30,130,794.10 deducted from the salaries of the Executive Chairman and
\nthe Commissioners as car loan.”<\/p>\n
“The National Assembly Budget and Research Office reportedly spent
\nN66,303,411.70 as out-of-pocket expenses without any documents. The
\nNational Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies paid
\nN246,256,060.51 by cheques, despite the prohibition of payments by
\ncheque by the Federal Government, except in extreme cases, and contrary
\nto Financial Regulation 631.”<\/p>\n
“According to the Auditor-General Report for 2017, the House of
\nRepresentatives reportedly spent \u20a695,212,250.00 without due process and
\nwithout any documents. The National Assembly Management Account also
\nreveals that N673,081,242.14 was spent between April and October 2017
\nwithout any documents. The Auditor-General reported that the funds may
\nhave been misappropriated.”<\/p>\n
“The Senate Account also reportedly shows that \u20a61,364,816,397.95 was
\nspent on store items without any documents to show for the spending. The
\nAuditor-General stated that his office was denied access to the store
\nand to the Senate’s records.”<\/p>\n
“The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies also
\nreportedly failed to remit \u20a62,181,696.50 from contract of goods and
\nservices. The Institute also paid \u20a667,296,478.00 without any payment
\nvouchers.”<\/p>\n
“We would be grateful if you would indicate the measures being taken to
\naddress the allegations and to implement the proposed recommendations,
\nwithin 14 days of the receipt and\/or publication of this letter. If we
\nhave not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal
\nactions to compel the leadership of the National Assembly to implement
\nthese recommendations in the public interest, and to promote
\ntransparency and accountability in the National Assembly.”<\/p>\n
“The Auditor-General also noted in his 2018 report that the National
\nInstitute for Legislative and Democratic Studies failed to remit
\nN577,634,638,20 due from contracts and supplies, even though the
\ndeductions were made. However, the Institute claimed that it was the
\nNational Assembly that was required to remit the money, as it is the
\nbody that maintains the account on behalf of the Institute.”<\/p>\n
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with
\nthe requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the
\ncountry’s international obligations including under the UN Convention
\nagainst Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and
\nCombating Corruption. Nigeria has ratified both treaties.”<\/p>\n
The letter is copied to Mr Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney General of the
\nFederation and Minister of Justice; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman
\nIndependent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
\n(ICPC); and Mr Mohammed Abba, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial
\nCrimes Commission (EFCC).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to “use their good offices to urgently…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n