Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas over “the unlawful plan to spend N40bn on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials, and N70bn as ‘palliatives’ for new members.”
The suit is coming on the heels of the statement by Mr Akpabio that the Clerk of the National Assembly had sent “holiday allowances” into the “various bank accounts of senators”. Some 137 million Nigerians face extreme poverty.
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1606/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to review and reduce the N40 billion budgeted to buy 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.”
SERAP is seeking: “an order restraining Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas from demanding or receiving the N40 billion to buy 465 SUVs and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials until an assessment of the socio-economic impact of the spending on the 137 million poor Nigerians is carried out in the public interest.”
SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to repeal the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2022 to reduce the budget for the National Assembly by N110bn to reflect the current economic realities in the country.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry.”
SERAP is arguing that, “Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the lawmakers will spend the N110bn, and the travesty, and apparent conflicts of interest and self-dealing by members of the National Assembly would continue.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “It a fundamental breach of their fiduciary duties for members of the National Assembly to arbitrarily increase their own budget and to use the budget as a tool to satisfy the lifestyle of lawmakers.”
According to SERAP, “While N70 billion ‘support allowance’ is budgeted for 306 new lawmakers, only N500 billion worth of palliatives is budgeted for 12 million poor Nigerians. N40 billion is also allocated to buy 465 SUVs and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Blessing Ogwuche, read in part: “The plan to spend N110bn is a fundamental breach of constitutional and international human rights obligations.”
“The planned spending of N110bn is a breach of section 57 (4) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 which provides that: ‘All persons in whose hands public funds may be entrusted for whatever purpose should bear in mind that its utilization should be Judicious.’”
“It is also a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for members of the National Assembly to unjustifiably increase their own budget at a time when over 137 million poor Nigerians are living in extreme poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidy.”
“Rather than exercising their constitutional and oversight functions to pursue the public interest by considering bills to improve the conditions of the over 137 million poor Nigerians who are facing the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy, the lawmakers appear to be looking after themselves.”
“According to reports, no fewer than 107 units of the 2023 model of the Toyota Landcruiser and 358 units of the 2023 model of Toyota Prado would be bought for the use of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives respectively.”
“The planned purchase is different from the official bulletproof vehicles expected to be purchased for the four presiding officers of the National Assembly.”
“The proposed spending of N110 billion by members of the National Assembly is apparently on top of the N281 billion already provided for the lawmakers in the 2023 National Assembly budget. The proposed spending is also different from the N30.17 billion budgeted for the ‘inauguration expenses’ for new members.”
“The budget for the National Assembly may further be increased as members are reportedly demanding an upward review of their salaries and allowances purportedly to offset the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.”
“Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] provides that, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
“Under Section 16(1)(a)(b), the National Assembly has the obligations to ‘harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy’, and to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen.’”
“Cutting the N110 billion from the budget of the National Assembly would be entirely consistent with members’ constitutional oath of office, and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution, as it would promote efficient, honest, and legal spending of public money.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
13/8/2023
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: +2348160537202
Renewable Energy :Edo Partner Experts and Institutions to Provide Training to Empower Youths
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said that the state has embarked on a mission to harness renewable energy sources in partnership with experts and institutions to providing training in solar energy, wind power, and other sustainable technologies to empower youths, not only with skills for the future job market but also with tools to create a cleaner air and a healthier environment.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare at the just concluded boot camp organized by the Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs with support from the GIZ, Skills Development for Youth Employment, SKYE, EdoJobs and Romanpage Global Services to commemorate the International Youth Day in Benin City disclosed that the state recognizes the urgent need to prioritize sustainable development and conserve our precious ecosystems for future generations.
According to him, “the theme for this year’s International Youth Day, “Green Skills for Youth” resonates deeply with our commitment to empowering our youth with the knowledge, skills and tools to shape a more sustainable future.
“It is inspiring to see our young people stepping up, eager to learn, innovate and lead the change towards a greener tomorrow. In Edo state we have taken significant strides towards promoting green creative skills and sustainable development.
“We understand that our youth are not just the beneficiaries of tomorrow, you are the architects of change today. Through targeted initiatives, partnerships and collaborative efforts, we have made considerable progress in Green Entrepreneurship hubs, Urban Green spaces, Waste management innovations, Biodiversity conservation and community engagement.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Eire Ifueko Alufuhai Esq. disclosed that the boot camp was organized with the core objective to establish a dynamic platform where young people can immerse themselves in purposeful dialogues, workshops and interactive sessions focused on green skills, creative business awareness and sustainable progress.
“Our aspiration is to ignite and instill enthusiasm within the young participants, encouraging them to play an active role in shaping a more ecologically balanced and prosperous future not only for Edo state but for the entirety of Nigeria.
“The Edo state government through the Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs is committed to creating safe platforms where young people’s voices can be heard to harness and nurture their talents, creativity and potential.
“As such, I would like to announce that in partnership with the Edo Skills Development Agency and the GIZ, we will be organizing a four months training programme for participants to have the opportunity of building their knowledge and competence in the creative sector.
“I want to recognize partners who have actively stood with the Government in mitigating the challenge of youth empowerment. Your contribution to the empowerment of young people is commendable and I look forward to our continued fruitful support,” she added.
In a goodwill message issued by Ayotunde Razaq Jr, GIZ Communication advisor commended the Edo state government for this laudable initiative which is fast becoming a norm in the state
“In the year 2022, the Ministry marked the International Youth Day with a boot camp and this year we gather to celebrate another International Youth Day 2023. This year followed the same pattern and with closer collaboration and support by Edo state skills Development Agency and the German Government through GIZ in delivering training for green and creative skills during the boot camp.
“The theme of this year’s International Youth Day is timely and touches the very heart of what we are jointly trying to achieve in our effort to provide quality and lifelong learning opportunities for the youths of Edo State.
“At SKYE, we work with our partner, the Edo state government to achieve this through a multi-level integrated approach to employment promotion, that looks at policy recommendation through the public private dialogue platform. To give an example, last year during the international youth day week, GIZ SEDEC cluster together with the Ministry of Youths and all relevant stakeholders started the process of domesticating the national youth policy action plan for Edo state and today we are on the path of integrating this action plan into a wholistic employment strategy for Edo State.
At the end of the 3-day boot camp the youths were presented with certificates of participation by the Director of Youth, Mr. Asiriuwa Victor on behalf of the organizers and the participants expressed their appreciation to the state government and GIZ for giving them the opportunity to learn many skills that will be of assistance to them.
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU IN ISLAND MATERNITY HOSPITAL TO MONITOR HEALTH PALLIATIVE SERVICES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
- Governor conducts facility audit at Doctor’s Quarters
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, took an unscheduled visit to Island Maternity Hospital on the Lagos Island, catching the medical personnel unaware.
At 6:35pm, the Governor walked quietly into the hospital’s maternity ward where two expectant mothers were being examined.
One of them, Odeyemi Omowunmi, is heavily pregnant but she is not yet due for delivery. The 37-year-old expectant mother was compelled to take admission weeks ahead of her scheduled delivery.
Odeyemi’s forced hospitalisation was as a result of her unstable blood pressure — the condition that led to two previous miscarriages. In order not to lose the pregnancy, doctors advised Odeyemi be placed under constant observation until she is due for childbirth.
Who bears the cost for her prolonged admission at the hospital?
The care is free of charge. The medical expenses are completely covered under the health palliative scheme declared by Governor Sanwo-Olu across the Lagos State-owned General Hospitals.
The health scheme is part of the relief measures rolled out by the State Government to cushion the hardship being faced by residents as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
The health palliative covers the cost of normal pregnancy delivery, Caesarean section and antenatal care done in the State-owned hospitals.
Sanwo-Olu was at the Island Maternity Hospital to monitor compliance of the State’s medical staff.
In a chat with the Governor, Odeyemi said: “My husband and I live in Abule Egba, where I started antenatal care at a private clinic. I was seven and half months into my pregnancy when they discovered that my blood pressure was too high. My husband feared that I might lose the pregnancy again, having had two successive miscarriages.
“We were referred to Island Maternity Hospital for advanced medical examination when doctors told me I must be admitted for continued observation. My husband did not want me admitted initially because of the cost. But we were told the care is completely free. We didn’t believe it until I started getting treatment without anyone asking us to pay a dime.”
Since the free medical services commenced on the first day of August, hundreds of pregnant women have benefited from the free delivery and antenatal care across the Lagos-owned hospitals.
Sanwo-Olu was conducted around the maternity ward by the Chief Matron in Charge, Akinsola Dorcas.
The Governor moved to Lagos Island Hospital, Odan, where he personally took an audit of facilities in the 10-storey Doctor’s Quarters in which a house officer recently died from injuries in an elevator accident.
Sanwo-Olu conducted on-the-spot assessment of apartments, stores, and power supply system in the quarters. He was led by representative of the House Officers, Dr. Segun Ogunlana.
“I need to come and see things for myself to know where our intervention is specifically and generally needed,” the Governor said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
14 AUGUST 2023
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU APPOINTS SIX SPECIAL ADVISER
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed six Special Advisers (non-Cabinet) to serve in various capacities across ministries.
The Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Mrs. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, made this known in a statement on Monday. The newly appointed Special Advisers are:
- Dr. (Mrs) Iyabo Oyeyemi Ayoola – Special Adviser, Central Internal Audit
- Mr. Olalekan Hafeez Balogun – Special Adviser, Economic Planning & Budget
- Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafę – Special Adviser, Community Development
- Very Rev. Bukola Adebiyi – Special Adviser, Christian Religion
- Dr. Abdullahi Jębę – Special Adviser, Muslim Religion
- Hon. Ismail Odesanya – Special Adviser, DAWN Commission & S/W Integration.
The SSG extended her congratulations to the appointees and encouraged them to align their contributions with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s vision for a Greater Lagos.
The appointments take immediate effect.
Signed
Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin
SSG
14 August, 2023