SERAP Demands Probe into Alleged Diversion of N6.3bn Constituency Project Funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has formally urged the leadership of the National Assembly to initiate an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of over N6.3 billion earmarked for constituency projects. In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the organization requested that these allegations be referred to relevant anti-corruption agencies for thorough inquiry and potential prosecution.

The call follows findings in the 2022 Annual Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which highlighted widespread financial irregularities across several government agencies. The report points to systemic issues, including payments made into private accounts, contracts awarded without due process, and substantial funds disbursed for projects that were reportedly never executed.

Among the entities implicated in the report are the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology in Vom, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). Specific allegations include the awarding of millions of naira in contracts without adequate documentation, the use of invalid tax clearance certificates, and payments for abattoir and sanitation projects that, according to auditors, showed no evidence of completion.

SERAP emphasized that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to ensure accountability in public spending. The organization argued that the legislature’s anti-corruption efforts would lack credibility if it failed to address the mismanagement within its own sanctioned projects.

“Allegations of corruption in the spending of constituency project funds have continued to undermine economic development, violate social justice, and destroy trust in political institutions,” the letter stated.

SERAP has given the National Assembly leadership a seven-day ultimatum to act on its recommendations. The organization warned that it is prepared to pursue legal action to compel a full investigation, the recovery of unaccounted funds, and the disclosure of the identities of contractors or companies that received payments without fulfilling project obligations.