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 also sought “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.”
The agency further argued 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.”
Additionally, SERAP noted 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.”
The organization equally argued 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.”
Furthermore, SERAP maintained 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.