Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to “stop President Muhammadu Buhari from spending N26bn in the 2022 presidency budget on local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, ‘sitting allowance’, ‘welfare package’, and office building.”
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to cut the N26bn 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 N26bn would leave the poorest and most vulnerable people without access to essential public goods and services, and burden the next generation.”
The suit 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.”
“Stopping President Buhari from spending the proposed N26bn on travels and meals would ensure that the government is spending the country’s maximum available resources to respect, protect, and promote the rights to basic needs of the poor and marginalized groups.”
“The proposed spending is unsustainable, and would take away critical funding to provide access to quality healthcare and education.”
“Public officers are mere custodians of public records. Nigerians are entitled to know how the commonwealth is being utilized, managed and administered in a democratic setting.”
“According to reports, the proposed N26bn on travels, meals, refreshments and the presidential wing of the State House Clinic is more than the proposed allocations for ongoing and new projects in 14 teaching hospitals combined. N19.17 billion is allocated to the following teaching hospitals: UNILAG Teaching Hospital—N1.69bn; ABU Teaching Hospital—N2.38bn; University College Hospital, Ibadan—N1.49bn; and UNN Teaching Hospital—N1.38bn.”
“UNIBEN Teaching Hospital—N1.35bn; OAU Teaching Hospital—N1.35bn; UNILORIN Teaching Hospital—N982m; UNIJOS Teaching Hospital—N908m; University of Port Harcourt—N1.14bn; UNIMAID Teaching Hospital—N986m; Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital—N987m; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital—N2.49bn; UNIABUJA Teaching Hospital—N1.90bn; and ATBU Teaching Hospital—N947m.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
7/11/2021
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
Identification of bodies continues in Lagos – Commissioner
One more body has been recovered from the site of the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Lagos. The body, which was recovered on Saturday, has brought the number of bodies retrieved from the rubble to 43.
There are 15 survivors and 49 persons have reported that their loved ones are missing.
At the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba, the identification of bodies continues.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, once again, commiserates with the families of those who died in the incident.
Gbenga Omotoso
Commissioner, Information & Strategy
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES ATTAH IGALA KINGDOM, ALHAJI MATTHEW OPALUWA OGUCHE, ON CORONATION
President Muhammadu Buhari joins people and Government of Kogi State in celebrating investiture of Attah Igala Kingdom, Alhaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche, commending the Four Ruling houses for a choice most befitting, and reflective of the values of the revered tribe.
President Buhari felicitates with sons
and daughters of Igala Kingdom, at home and diaspora, for the processional coronation of the royal father, who will carry on the good works of his predecessors in upholding and promoting age-old cultural icons, most significantly the betterment of the domain.
As the historic event unfolds in
Lokoja, the President notes the importance of the procession to national heritage, with the confluence state serving as reference for elevating the beauty of Nigeria’s history.
The President looks forward to working with the Attah Igala, whose throne has over the years turned a repository of wisdom
and truth, counseling many leaders at state and national levels, and providing strong advocacy for unity and civic responsibilities.
President Buhari prays for wellbeing of the Attah Igala, and wellness of his domain.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 7, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU ATTENDS EUROPEAN CORPORATE COUNCIL AND MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended the second edition of the European Corporate Council on Africa and Middle East (ECAM) summit with the theme ‘Finding New Ways to Care’ last week in Rome, Italy.
The ECAM Summit was a side meeting at the sixteenth G20 summit, which was held in Rome on 30-31 October, 2021.
The ECAM Council aims to promote and develop constructive dialogue, new partnerships and strong cooperation between Europe, Africa and the MENA region, with Italy taking on the role as host nation. Mr. Sanwo-Olu joined an open and honest dialogue on such issues as healthcare, education and philanthropically funded projects.
According to the organisers, the forum also aims to take tangible steps towards encouraging investment between Europe, Africa and the Middle East in many areas, however, special focus is given to healthcare in all of its facets.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
NOVEMBER 7, 2021
PRESS STATEMENT
APM CONDEMNS THE IMPOSITION OF N100 DAILY TAX ON POS OPERATORS
WE CALL ON THE AJIF TO CANCEL THE POLICY
The Ajegunle Peoples’ Movement (APM) strongly condemns the imposition of a daily payment of one hundred Naira (N100) on Point of Sale (POS) operators by Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government led by Executive Chairman Fatia Ayoola. This is due to the fact that it is exploitative and heartless, and it is intended to rip off POS operators and other small businesses. We hereby call on the POS operators, small and medium scale business owners and artisans to unite to campaign and resist this obnoxious policy.
The statement was made via a circular on the letterhead of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, without the signature of the local government chairman. The implementation, which will begin on November 8th, 2021, is a case of double taxation, which has pushed numerous artisans, market women and men, street vendors, traders, and small and medium-sized businesses to close their shops.
Already, many small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria have collapsed as a result of the difficult business environment, double taxation, and offensive government regulations and policies. This is in addition to the fact that the management of COVID-19 has made life more difficult for many families and people, even graduates, who now rely on the POS as a means of livelihood in the poorly managed Nigerian economy run by the APC, PDP and other bourgeois political parties.
The fraudulent aspect of it is that the local government would be collecting the illegal N100 on a daily basis through designated touts and thugs to whom the POS operators have already paid the yearly corporation tax or lock-up shop (demand notice) on behalf of the local government. Obviously, it is a well-established APC thuggery-style forceful tax collection mechanism throughout Lagos State, and it is in conflict with all relevant sections of the Lagos State Tax Law.
APM, on the other hand, calls on POS operators, artisans, market women and men, traders, street business vendors, and other small and medium businesses to mobilize for a series of mass meetings in order to resist any obnoxious taxes including the current daily N100 and local government policies that are detrimental to their survival.
Finally, APM asks that the order for the daily collection of N100 by the local government be cancelled. Instead, we urge the local government to establish financial assistance programs as well as improvement in public infrastructures like electricity, portable water supply, road, public education and healthcare to assist artisans, traders, market women and men, and other small businesses to survive.
SIGNED
Comrade Moshood Oshunfurewa
Chairperson/Coordinator
