The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, a seven-day ultimatum to account for ₦18.6 billion allegedly lacking from funds allotted for the development of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Workplace Advanced.
SERAP issued the ultimatum in a letter to the 2 presiding officers of the Nationwide Meeting by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.
The group’s letter adopted recent revelations contained within the 2022 annual report of the Auditor-Basic of the Federation, launched on 9 September 2025, which raised severe questions on how the cash was disbursed, amid allegations of inflated contracts, absence of procurement documentation, and non-compliance with monetary laws.
In accordance with the 2022 audited report, NASC paid ₦11.6 billion to an “unknown development firm” on 11 August 2020 to assemble its proposed workplace complicated. Nonetheless, the Auditor-Basic noticed that there have been no bidding processes, commercials, or contract agreements to justify the fee.
Subsequently, on 29 November 2023, the Fee reportedly paid a further ₦6.9 billion to the identical unnamed firm for the “conversion of the roof backyard to workplace house.”
The report famous that no authority had accredited the upward assessment of the contract, and no priced Invoice of Amount (BOQ) or wants evaluation was carried out.
The Auditor-Basic additional disclosed that there was no proof of a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) certificates of “No Objection” or any approval from the Federal Govt Council (FEC), as required by legislation.
In accordance with the report, these omissions rendered the funds suspicious and probably illegal.
“The Auditor-Basic fears the ₦18.6 billion of public funds budgeted for the development of the Fee’s Workplace Advanced and the conversion of the roof backyard to workplace house could also be lacking. He desires the cash accounted for,” the report acknowledged.
SERAP calls for fast motion and transparency
Within the letter dated 18 October, SERAP demanded that Messrs Akpabio and Tajudeen publish the title, tackle, and company particulars of the development agency that allegedly collected the funds.
The organisation stated such disclosure was step one in direction of establishing transparency within the administration of the undertaking.
“These grim allegations by the Auditor-Basic counsel grave violations of the general public belief, the Nigerian Structure 1999 (as amended), and nationwide and worldwide anti-corruption obligations,” SERAP wrote.
The organisation additionally urged the management of each chambers to clarify why due course of was ignored in awarding and executing the undertaking, together with the absence of bidding commercials, contract agreements, and approvals.
SERAP famous that “the Nationwide Meeting can solely successfully carry out its oversight and anti-corruption roles if it may show exemplary management to probe allegations of corruption and mismanagement involving its personal fee.”
Menace of authorized motion
SERAP gave the Senate president and the speaker seven days from the receipt or publication of its letter to behave on its calls for, warning that failure to conform would power the organisation to hunt redress in court docket.
“We might be grateful if the really useful measures are taken inside seven days of receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we now have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all acceptable authorized actions to compel you, the Nationwide Meeting, and the Nationwide Meeting Service Fee to adjust to our request within the public curiosity,” the letter acknowledged.
Undertaking’s lingering controversies
The Nationwide Meeting Service Fee Workplace Advanced undertaking has been on the drafting board for over a decade.
Initially conceived to supply a everlasting administrative constructing for the Fee, chargeable for recruitment, coaching, and welfare of Meeting workers, the undertaking has repeatedly featured in price range allocations since 2018 regardless of large quantities allotted for preparatory works, feasibility research, and web site growth.
Nonetheless, progress on the undertaking has remained opaque, with no publicly verifiable construction or completion timeline.
SERAP insisted that the Nationwide Meeting should not solely probe the alleged lacking funds but additionally topic itself to the identical requirements of accountability it usually calls for from ministries, departments, and businesses (MDAs).
“The Nationwide Meeting should reside as much as its constitutional tasks by upholding and defending the fundamental rules of transparency, accountability, and the rule of legislation,” the group stated.
It added that failure to behave would undermine the legislature’s credibility, notably because it continues to summon public officers over monetary improprieties.
Authorized and constitutional obligations
SERAP cited Sections 13, 15(5), and 16 of the 1999 Structure, which require public establishments, together with the Nationwide Meeting, to advertise transparency, guarantee accountability, and abolish corrupt practices.
It additionally referenced Nigeria’s obligations beneath the United Nations Conference Towards Corruption (UNCAC), notably Articles 5 and 9, which mandate governments to make sure correct administration of public sources and transparency in public administration.
READ ALSO: SERAP tells INEC to punish politicians for early election campaigns
SERAP warned that the persevering with failure of public establishments to make sure transparency in monetary administration has direct penalties for bizarre Nigerians.
“Poor and susceptible Nigerians proceed to bear the heavy financial and social prices of corruption,” the letter famous. “Corruption exposes them to extra prices to pay for well being, schooling, and administrative companies.”
The group careworn that corruption in excessive locations, particularly inside the legislature, undermines governance, erodes public belief, and diminishes the ethical authority of state establishments.
The organisation urged the Senate president and speaker to refer the matter to related anti-corruption businesses for full investigation and attainable prosecution of these accountable.
Efforts to talk with the Spokesperson of the Home of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, have been unsuccessful as he didn’t reply to calls to his cell phone.
About SERAP
SERAP is a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation devoted to selling transparency, accountability, and respect for socio-economic rights.
Established in 2004, the group is famend for utilizing strategic litigation and public advocacy to carry Nigerian public officers and establishments accountable for corruption and human rights violations.
It has filed quite a few public curiosity instances towards the federal authorities, the Nationwide Meeting, and state officers over price range secrecy, mismanagement of recovered funds, and abuse of public workplace.
