The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the leadership of Nigeria’s National Assembly, accusing them of unlawfully fixing their running costs and allowances.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, names Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas as respondents.
In a statement released on Friday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, explained that the lawsuit was initiated following allegations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that lawmakers were fixing their salaries and allowances independently, contrary to the recommendations of the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).
SERAP is seeking a court order mandating Akpabio and Abbas to put an end to the “unlawful practice” of the National Assembly determining its remuneration and allowances, which the group refers to as “running costs.”
Additionally, the suit demands that the National Assembly disclose the exact amounts paid as running costs and provide details of how these funds are spent.
The group also seeks a court directive to stop the alleged practice of paying these running costs directly into the personal accounts of lawmakers.
According to SERAP, this practice is a violation of Rule 713 of the Federal Government Financial Regulations, which states that “public money shall not be paid into a private bank account.”
“The provisions of paragraph N, section 32(d) of the Third Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] clearly make it unlawful for the National Assembly to fix its salaries, allowances, and running costs,” Oluwadare stated.
SERAP’s legal action underscores its commitment to holding public officials accountable and ensuring that the use of public funds is transparent and in line with constitutional and regulatory provisions.