‘Plans To Spend N15 billion On A Befitting Residence For Shettima, Unlawful — SERAP

A Lagos-based human rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), on Sunday, urged the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to reject the plan by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nysom Wike, to spend N15 billion for the construction of ‘a befitting residence’ for the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

According to a statement signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP particularly charged the Senate President to “assert the Senate's authority and constitutional oversight roles to reject the N2.8 billion on publicity for the FCTA and other proposed wasteful and unnecessary spending that may be contained in the 2023 supplementary budget and the 2024 budget proposed by President Bola Tinubu.”

Referencing its letter dated December 2, 2023, SERAP insisted that, “The plan to spend N15 billion on ‘a befitting residence’ for the vice president is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international anti-corruption and human rights obligations.

“The Senate has the constitutional duties to ensure that Mr Wike’s proposed spending is entirely consistent and compatible with constitutional provisions, including his oath of office. All public officials remain subject to the rule of law.

“The National Assembly, including the Senate, has a constitutional responsibility to address the country’s debt crisis, including by rejecting wasteful and unnecessary spending to satisfy the personal comfort and lifestyles of public officials.”

In adding that the National Assembly cannot continue to fail to fulfil its oversight function, SERAP posited that the Senate must assert and demonstrate its independence by checking and rejecting all wasteful and unnecessary spending by the executive.

The group said: “It would be a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for the Senate to approve the plan to spend N15 billion on ‘a befitting residence’ for the vice president at a time when the Federal Government is set to spend 30% (that is, N8.25 trillion) of the country’s 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion on debt service costs.

“The Federal Government also plans to borrow N7.8 trillion to fund the 2024 budget. Nigeria’s public debt stood at 87.4 trillion naira as of June, with 38% owed to external creditors, including multilateral and commercial lenders.

“Should the Senate and its leadership fail to stop wasteful and unnecessary spending and rein in government borrowing, SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to compel the National Assembly including the Senate to discharge its constitutional oversight roles in the public interest.”

SERAP tasked the Senate President to refer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the allegations of corruption in the spending of the previously approved N7 billion for the construction of a new residence for the vice president.

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