Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to reinstate Senator Abdul Ningi who was suspended for three months over his allegations that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion.
SERAP also called on Akpabio to refer the allegations that lawmakers padded the 2024 budget by irregularly inserting projects worth N3.7 trillion to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.
The group further urged the Senate to make a public commitment to discontinue the patently unlawful constituency projects in the next budget cycle.
SERAP made these demands in an open letter addressed to Senator Akpabio dated March 16, 2024 and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
The civil society organisation said what Senator Ningi had done “is a positive act of good citizenship and that no whistleblower should ever be penalised simply for making a public interest disclosure.”
The letter read in part: “Without inside information, corruption is hard to detect, prevent and combat. Rather than suspending Senator Ningi, the Senate ought to have used his allegations as a trigger for addressing the lingering problem of budget padding and corruption in the implementation of constituency projects.
“Referring the allegations to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would improve public trust in the ability of the leadership of the Senate to ensure probity and accountability in the budget process.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel you and the Senate to comply with our requests in the public interest.
“By exercising strong and effective leadership in this matter, the National Assembly can show Nigerians that the legislative body is a proper and accountable watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able to hold itself to account in the management of public resources.
“Encouraging whistleblowers to speak up improves public services and strengthens public accountability. Promptly referring the allegations to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigations and prosecution would serve the public interest,’’ SERAP said.
According to SERAP, investigating and prosecuting the allegations of budget padding and corruption would end the impunity of perpetrators, adding that it would improve transparency and accountability in the National Assembly and build trust in democratic institutions with the ultimate aim of strengthening the rule of law.
The group maintained that it is concerned about the opacity and lack of accountability in the spending of public funds on constituency projects since the return of democracy in 1999.
“SERAP is seriously concerned that years of allegations of budget padding and corruption in the implementation of constituency projects have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services.
“Allegations of budget padding and corruption in the implementation of constituency projects have also continued to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens in several communities and the public interest,” they said.
SERAP added that, “Combating budget padding and discontinuing constituency projects would serve the public interest, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of ministries, departments and agencies to effectively and efficiently discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.”
