The leadership of the National Assembly is facing intense pressure to come clean on N18.6 billion allegedly missing from funds earmarked for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Office Complex.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, demanding the disclosure of the company that received the colossal payment.
The demand is predicated on alarming revelations contained in the latest 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF), which was published on September 9, 2025.
The report detailed serious breaches of procurement procedures and raised fears that the substantial sum may have been misappropriated, diverted, or stolen.
In a letter dated October 18, 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the rights group specifically urged the presiding officers to disclose the name and full details of the alleged 'fictitious construction company' that reportedly collected the entire N18.6 billion for the project.
SERAP also requested the public disclosure of the company’s directors, shareholders, its registered address, and the current implementation status of the office complex.
According to the AuGF’s damning findings, the National Assembly Service Commission reportedly paid over N11.6 billion to an unidentified construction company on August 11, 2020, for the complex’s construction.
This was followed by an additional N6.9 billion payment allegedly made on November 29, 2023, specifically for the conversion of a roof garden into office space, a transaction the Auditor-General's report flagged as an inflation of the contract amount.
The report pointed out multiple red flags, stating that the contract was awarded without due process, lacked a Bill of Quantity (BOQ), and was executed without essential documentation.
These violations included the absence of a needs assessment, lack of advertisement for bids, no formal contract agreement, and no quotations from bidders, all mandatory requirements under the Public Procurement Act.
Furthermore, there was no recorded approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) or the Bureau of Public Procurement’s Certificate of No Objection.
SERAP asserted that these findings suggest grave violations of public trust, accountability, and the constitutional provisions governing public spending in the country.
“These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest serious violations of the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption obligations.
“The National Assembly can only effectively perform its oversight and anti-corruption roles if it demonstrates exemplary leadership by probing these allegations,” the letter stated.
The group stressed that the alleged missing funds and the irregular contract process point to a troubling pattern of disregard for financial regulations within the legislature's own administrative structures.
By addressing these allegations transparently, SERAP argued, the National Assembly would help restore public confidence in its ability to uphold transparency and conduct effective oversight functions.
“Poor and vulnerable Nigerians continue to bear the heavy social and economic costs of corruption,” SERAP noted, reminding the leadership of its constitutional duty under Sections 13, 15(5), and 16(1–2) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandate the abolition of corrupt practices and abuse of power by all public institutions.
SERAP concluded its warning by urging Akpabio and Abbas to refer the matter to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, as well as to ensure the recovery of any missing funds.
Failure to comply with the seven-day ultimatum, the group warned, would compel SERAP to take all appropriate legal actions to compel compliance in the public interest.
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The video SERAP: N14bn NASS Complex contract fraud to be investigated is relevant because it discusses SERAP's involvement in demanding accountability for a similar large-scale, potentially fraudulent contract concerning a National Assembly complex.
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