SERAP to court: Stop Buhari from spending N26bn on travels, meals, others

The N26 billion allocated in the 2022 budget of the Presidency to cater for local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, sitting allowance, welfare package, and office building has become a subject of litigation.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from spending the amount.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2021 filed on Friday, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to cut the N26 billion presidency budget on local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, and to send a supplementary appropriation bill to the National Assembly to reflect the reduction.”

SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to publish spending details on the State House Medical Center since May 29, 2015 to date; and to redirect some of the money on travels and meals to improve public healthcare facilities across the country.”

SERAP is arguing that, “the government would continue to borrow to fund the country’s budget until there is a substantial cut to the cost of governance. It is in the public interest to stop the government from spending so much money on these items. Persistent borrowing is neither sustainable nor fair to the Nigerian people.”

According to SERAP, “The huge spending by the presidency is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially in the face of the country’s dire economic position, the scant allocations to education and health, and the growing level of borrowing by the Federal Government to fund the 2022 budget.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “The Buhari administration has constitutional and fiduciary duties to ensure a responsible budget spending, and the well-being and prosperity of Nigerians. Some of the proposed spending could be better allocated to improve access of poor Nigerians to basic public goods and services.”

SERAP is further arguing that, “Any spending of public funds should stay within the limits of constitutional responsibilities, and oath of office by public officers, as well as comply with Chapter 2 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution [as amended] relating to fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the Federal Government will continue to benefit from the breach of the law, and the proposed spending of N26 billion would leave the poorest and most vulnerable people without access to essential public goods and services, and burden the next generation.”

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “Cutting waste and apparently unnecessary spending would go a long way in addressing the budget deficit and debt problems.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.