SERAP Urge Akpabio to Reject Wike’s Plan to Spend N15bn on ‘Befitting Residence ’ for Shettima

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has been urged against endorsing an alleged proposal by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to construct a ‘suitable residence’ for Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima.

In a letter dated December 2, the organization, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), specifically desires Akpabio “to promptly reject the plan by the Minister of the FCT, Nysom Wike to spend N15 billion for the construction of ‘a befitting residence’ for the Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima.”

It called on Akpabio to “assert Senate’s authority and constitutional oversight roles to reject the N2.8 billion on publicity for the FCTA and other proposed wasteful and unnecessary spending that may be contained in the 2023 supplementary budget and the 2024 budget proposed by President Bola Tinubu.”

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by SERAP’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.

“The Senate has the constitutional duties to ensure that Mr Wike’s proposed spending is entirely consistent and compatible with constitutional provisions including his oath of office. All public officials remain subject to the rule of law,” the statement read.

“The National Assembly including the Senate has a constitutional responsibility to address the country’s debt crisis, including by rejecting wasteful and unnecessary spending to satisfy the personal comfort and lifestyles of public officials.”

“The National Assembly cannot continue to fail to fulfil its oversight function. The Senate must assert and demonstrate its independence by checking and rejecting all wasteful and unnecessary spending by the executive.”

The group contends that approving the plan to allocate N15 billion for a ‘suitable residence’ for the vice president would constitute a serious breach of public trust and the constitutional oath of office. This is especially concerning given that the Federal Government is slated to allocate 30% of the 2024 budget, amounting to N8.25 trillion out of N27.5 trillion, towards servicing the country’s debt.