Account for missing N18.6bn NASS fund, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas

Account for missing N18.6bn NASS fund, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to explain the whereabouts of N18.6 billion allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Commission Office Complex.

According to SERAP, the alleged mismanagement was exposed in the 2022 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, released on 9 September 2025. The group demanded that the National Assembly leadership disclose the name of the ‘fictitious construction company’ that reportedly collected the money, along with details of its directors, shareholders and address.

In a letter dated 18 October 2025 and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP accused the legislature of failing to follow the Public Procurement Act. It noted that no needs assessment, public bidding, contract agreement or bidders’ quotations were conducted before the N18.6 billion was paid.

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The organisation further questioned why the contract was inflated by N6.9 billion for the “conversion of the roof garden to office space” without any approval for the upward review. SERAP urged Akpabio and Abbas to disclose the project’s implementation status and explain the rationale behind the expenditure.

“These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of public trust, the Nigerian Constitution, and the country’s anti-corruption obligations,” the letter read.

SERAP warned that if the National Assembly fails to respond within seven days, it would take legal action to compel Akpabio, Abbas, and the National Assembly Service Commission to account for the missing funds.

The group emphasised that addressing the allegations would restore public confidence in the legislature’s integrity and demonstrate genuine commitment to transparency and accountability.

Account for missing N18.6bn NASS fund, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas