Emmanuel OchayiSocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has rejected Nyesom Wike’s proposal to allocate N15 billion for constructing a residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stressed that such expenditure is a direct violation of constitutional principles and the nation’s international commitments against corruption.
SERAP’s Deputy Director said “The plan to spend N15 billion on ‘a befitting residence’ for the vice president is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international anticorruption and human rights obligations.”
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The organization urged the National Assembly to exert its authority in curbing wasteful spending and focus on addressing the country’s alarming debt crisis.
They underscored the need for the Senate to reject unnecessary expenses that prioritize personal comfort over national welfare.
SERAP hinted at potential legal action if the Senate fails to fulfill its oversight function, specifically in checking unwarranted spending by the executive arm of the government.
Furthermore, they emphasized the urgency of investigating previous unaccounted funds, exemplified by the N7 billion earmarked for the former vice president’s residence construction that allegedly remains untraceable.
Amidst this, the disclosure by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike regarding the approval and subsequent abandonment of the VP’s residence construction, citing an initial N7 billion budget, raised eyebrows.
Wike revealed an allocation of N5 billion in the FCT’s supplementary budget to resurrect this project.
SERAP’s strong opposition highlights a growing concern about prudent financial management and ethical governance, urging accountability and transparency in government expenditures while challenging unconstitutional allocations.
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