SERAP also urged him “to send to the
National Assembly a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the
reduced proposed spending on the construction of the state house medical
center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, and ‘welfare
package’, for its approval.”
In the letter dated October 9, 2021, and
signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said,
“Many Nigerians will find it quite odd, unfair, and unjust that the government
is spending so much money on many of these items in the middle of a public
borrowing crisis. The proposed spending could be better allocated to improve
access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services.”
The letter read in part, “SERAP also urges
you to publish details of spending on construction and repairs of the
presidential wing at the medical center and office furniture and fittings since
May 29, 2915.
“The proposed spending figures highlight
the lack of political will to cut the cost of governance, starting from the
presidency. This spending is unsustainable, and would take away critical
funding to provide access to quality healthcare and education.
“This would leave the poorest and most
vulnerable people without access to these essential public goods and services,
and burden the next generation.
According to our information, for the
Office of the President, you recently proposed in the 2022 appropriation bill
to spend N24,835,805,231 for the construction of the presidential wing at the
state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments.
“The construction of the presidential wing
will cost N21,974,763,310. N2,309,066,788 is proposed to be spent on general
travel and transport while N301,138,860 will be spent on food stuff and
catering materials supplies. N250,836,273 is proposed to be spent on
refreshments, meals, honorarium, sitting allowance, publicity, and
advertisements.
“For the Office of the Vice-President,
N1,136,717,757 is proposed for local and foreign travels, meals and
refreshments, purchase of office furniture and fittings, and other expenses.
The details are: N778,261,411 is proposed to be spent on general travel and
transport.
“N168,210,826 is proposed for office
stationeries/computer, consumables, printing of documents, uniforms and other
clothing, food stuff and catering materials supplies. N2,350,626 is proposed
for cooking gas and fuel cost.
“N99,795,229 is proposed to be spent on
refreshments, meals, honorarium, sitting allowance, publicity and
advertisements. N31,909,380 is proposed for computer software acquisition while
N30,817,085 is proposed for the purchase of motor vehicles. N25,373,200 is
proposed for the purchase of office furniture and fittings.
“We would therefore be grateful if the
recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication
of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all
appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our
requests.”
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