Due to their failure to reduce the N228.1 billion National Assembly budget, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Dr. Ahmad Lawan and House Speaker Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Kolawole Oluwadare, the deputy director of SERAP, said in a statement on Sunday that the lawsuit came after the National Assembly increased its 2023 budget from the N169 billion President Muhammadu Buhari proposed to N228.1 billion.
The budget was approved with an increase of about N59.1 billion. The N21.83 trillion national budget is made up of a N11.34 trillion deficit and N10.49 trillion in revenue.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/152/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Dr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila to review and reduce the budget of N228.1 billion the leadership and members of the National Assembly allocated for their own benefit.”
The suit also asked the court to stop the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning from releasing National Assembly Budget until impact analysis is conducted.
It argued that the NASS budget is unnecessarily higher than the budget for Education.
SERAP said government cannot continue to fund the lavish lifestyle of lawmakers despite most Nigerians living in poverty.
The group described the increase in the NASS budget as unreasonable, unlawful and unfair amid the country’s heavy debt crisis.
SERAP said cutting NASS budget would address the nation’s debt burden and serve public interest.