Follow Us on Google
From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Some Pro-democracy groups in the country have berated the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over suit filed against the National Assembly.
SERAP had filed the lawsuit to challenge the National Assembly for increasing its budget in the 2024 Appropriation Bill, urging the court to declare the NASS action as illegal and unconstitutional.
The Pro-democracy groups comprising the Nigerian Youths For Positive Change, African Youth Innovation and Leadership Forum, Coalition of Youth Development, among others described the move by SERAP as undemocratic and capable of heating up the polity.
The groups made this known at a press conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital, where they accused SERAP of constituting itself as an opposition to the growth and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, Vincent Anyanwu, explained that, what was submitted by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was a proposal and not a budget, adding that budget is also part of the statutory duties of the National Assembly as contained in sections 80 and 81 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
“SERAP does not have the rights to dictate for the National Assembly, it’s not done anywhere. What was submitted by the President of the Senate, Goodwill Akpabio is a proposal not a Budget and Budget is even part of NASS job as contained in Sections 80 and 81 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (As Amended).
“SERAP can’t just wake up one day and decide what the National Assembly should do. These people are binded by the constitution and they should be allowed to act in accordance to the constitution of the nation.
“On this note, we are calling for the independence of legislature and comparative decline in legislative budget.”
Anyanwu added, the NASS budget also involves other organs of the institution like the National Assembly Office, among others.
According to their intensive research, they said about 25% of the said budget is actually capital expenditures (CapEx).
“The NASS Budget involves other organs of the institution including National Assembly Office, National Assembly Service Commission and National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). Concerning the said budget, about 25% of it is Capital expenditures (CapEx).”
