Civil Society groups wants breakdown of N150 billion national assembly provision in 2014 budget

President of the Senate, David Mark 

The groups expect the National Assembly to release the information within seven days 

 

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations, and Enough is Enough, Nigeria, have requested information on the breakdown of the N150 billion allocation made for the National Assembly in the 2014 national budget.

 

The groups said they were making the request as part of their mandate of ensuring transparency, accountability, probity, and total commitment in the fight to eradicate corruption in Nigeria,

“In the 2014 budget proposal, presented to the National Assembly on December 19, 2013 by the Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonojo-Iweala, the National Assembly was allocated N150 billion for the 2014 fiscal year, maintaining the amount spent on the Assembly since 2011,” the groups said in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, David Mark.

“While there have been many reports on the high cost of governance in Nigeria and complaints from various quarters that the National Assembly is contributing a huge sum to the extreme cost; and the National Assembly maintaining its budget request yearly is not excessive, both Houses are yet to give any breakdown of how the monies are spent,” the groups said, in the letter signed by Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman, CSNAC and Yemi Adamolekun  Executive Director, EiE Nigeria. 

                                                   

 “CSNAC is hereby requesting, in accordance with the Section 2, 3, 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, for a breakdown of the National Assembly’s newly budgeted N150 billion for the year 2014.

 

” We believe that the Assembly will oblige this request especially since Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, on behalf of the legislators, stated that “the National Assembly is always ready and willing to answer anyone, who seeks information on its operations,” the groups said.

 

The groups quoted Mr. Abaribe as making the remark this as he responded to Nigerian citizens during a protest to the National Assembly coordinated by EiE Nigeria against the lack of transparency and accountability by Nigeria’s elected representatives.

 

 “We look forward to receiving the required information promptly and, in any event, within 7 days of the receipt of this application as provided for in the Freedom of Information Act, 2011” the group said.