The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas one week to provide a full accounting of N18.6 billion reportedly missing from the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex project.
The demand follows revelations in the 2022 Auditor-General of the Federation’s report, published on September 9, 2025, which raised serious questions about payments made to an unidentified construction company without proper documentation or adherence to procurement procedures.
In a letter dated October 18, SERAP outlined specific information it wants disclosed, including the identity of the contractor that received the funds, details of the company’s directors and shareholders, and its registered address. The organization described the situation as “a breach of public trust,” saying “the alleged irregularities raise concerns of possible diversion or theft of public funds.”
According to the Auditor-General’s findings, N11.6 billion was initially transferred to an unnamed firm on August 11, 2020, for the construction of the office complex. An additional N6.9 billion was subsequently released on November 29, 2023, for converting a roof garden into office space. The report noted that “the contract was inflated by about N6.9 billion for the conversion of a roof garden into office space without any formal approval.”
The audit report revealed that both transactions proceeded without essential documentation. According to the findings, “there are no available records showing that the contract went through due process,” and the payments lacked “Bills of Quantity, Federal Executive Council approval, or a Bureau of Public Procurement certificate of no objection.”
SERAP demanded explanations on “why key steps in the Procurement Act, such as advertisement, bidding, contract agreement, and needs assessment, were ignored before the payment of N18.6 billion.” The organization emphasized that such lapses undermine confidence in the National Assembly’s stewardship of public resources.
The civil society group is demanding immediate action from the legislative leadership, including full disclosure of contractor details, a comprehensive account of how the funds were utilized, and recovery of any amounts that cannot be properly accounted for. SERAP warned that “if no steps are taken within seven days, it would seek legal action to compel Akpabio, Abbas, and the National Assembly Commission to comply with its request in the interest of transparency.”
In its letter, SERAP reminded the lawmakers of “their constitutional duty to promote accountability and prevent corruption as required by Sections 13, 15, and 16 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.”
The rights advocacy group stressed that “corruption in public institutions deprives citizens of essential services, fuels poverty, and erodes public trust in governance.” SERAP called on the National Assembly to “demonstrate genuine leadership by addressing the Auditor-General’s findings and ensuring that all responsible individuals or entities are held accountable.”
The organization urged the legislative leadership to “take immediate action by publishing the details of the contractor, accounting for the funds, and recovering any missing amount.” SERAP expressed hope that the National Assembly would voluntarily provide the requested information without necessitating legal action.
The seven-day deadline gives the legislative leadership until October 25 to respond to SERAP’s demands before the organization proceeds with its threatened court action. The case represents another test of the National Assembly’s willingness to subject itself to the same standards of accountability it is empowered to enforce on the executive branch.
