Pro-democracy groups in the country have described the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the National Assembly (NASS) as undemocratic and tantamount to hitting up the polity.
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 accused SERAP of constituting itself as an opposition to the growth and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the pro-democracy groups, Vincent Anyanwu noted that what was submitted by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is 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 do 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 & 81 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (As Amended).
“SERAP can’t just wake up in 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 the legislature and comparative decline in legislative budget.”
He went further to state that the NASS budget also involves other organs of the institutions like the National Assembly Office, among others.
According to him, intensive research shows about 25% of the aid 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),” he said.