SERAP IN THE NEWS

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised the 10th National Assembly to temper their self-serving budgetary allocations, and we concur to its submissions. SERAP emphasised that “while N70 billion ‘support allowance’ is budgeted for 306 new lawmakers, only N500 billion worth of palliatives is budgeted for 12 million poor Nigerians. N40 billion is also allocated to buy 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.” We urge the National Assembly to heed the advice of SERAP in support of the economic reconstruction plans of the new administration.

As we have argued on this page over the years, the National Assembly holds the ace to accountability in government, through the constitutional oversight functions provided for in section 88 of the 1999 constitution (as amended). But to succeed, the august body must first remove the spec in their own eyes before they can see clearly the log in the eyes of the executive arm. The members ought to know that the determination of their entire remuneration, including allowances, is within the purview of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission as provided in the Third Schedule to the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Though, regrettably over the years, past senators and representatives acted dishonourably by using their power of authorisation of expenditure from consolidated revenue fund, as provided by section 81 of the constitution, to feather their own nest. More so, with the provision of the first alteration act, authorising that money standing to the credit of the National Assembly should be paid directly to them, members of the previous assemblies inserted whatever pleased them in the appropriation act, and such money was shared for their comfort and extravagance.

SERAP is asking the 10th National Assembly to be different and change the old ways of legislators for the better. Even when the change mantra was not used by any of the parties in the last election, we urge them to change for the better. As rightly posited by SERAP, “It is a fundamental breach of their fiduciary duties for members of the National Assembly to arbitrarily increase their own budget and to use the budget as a tool to satisfy the lifestyle of lawmakers.”

We recall how the houses built for the 4th and 5th National Assembly with tax-payers money were sold for paltry sums to members in the name of privatisation; while Nigerians were meant to believe that thenceforth lawmakers would fend for their accommodation, going forward. What they lost by way of houses they have gained through stupendous allowances that have no relationship with the economic reality of the country. Even in more economically viable democracies, like the USA, legislators live within their means, as some sleep in their offices.

We urge SERAP to follow through its demands for a more accountable 10th National Assembly. Legislators cannot live like oil sheiks, while other Nigerians squelch in abject poverty. The admonition of SERAP that “it is a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for members of the National Assembly to unjustifiably increase their own budget at a time when over 137 million poor Nigerians are living in extreme poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidy” is apt. Our legislators must begin reforms from above to avoid the chaos that comes with reforms coming from below.

— An editorial of The Nation Newspaper