The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a strong demand to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, urging them to publicly account for the missing N18.6 billion reportedly allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex.
The civic rights group made this call following revelations contained in the 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which flagged major financial irregularities in the handling of the project funds.
According to the Auditor-General’s report, the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) paid about N11.6 billion to a yet-to-be-named construction company for the office complex within two years. The report further indicated that the contract was later inflated by N6.9 billion under the guise of “converting a roof garden into office space,” bringing the total questionable amount to N18.6 billion.
SERAP, in a letter dated October 18, 2025, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, asked Akpabio and Abbas to disclose the full details of the project including the name of the company awarded the contract, the directors and shareholders involved, and the current status of the building.
The group noted that the contract appears to have violated multiple procurement laws, alleging that there was no public advertisement, no needs assessment, no approved bill of quantities, no signed contract agreement, and no “certificate of no objection” from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
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SERAP further challenged the National Assembly leadership to explain why the contract cost was reviewed upward without following due process or obtaining proper authorization. It insisted that the lack of transparency surrounding the project represents a grave breach of public trust and a violation of Nigeria’s constitutional and anti-corruption obligations.
“If these allegations are true, they amount to serious misconduct and misuse of public funds. The leadership of the National Assembly must demonstrate accountability and integrity by making all relevant information public,” the statement read in part.
The organization also warned that if the leadership of the National Assembly fails to respond within seven days, it will take legal action and petition relevant anti-corruption agencies to compel accountability.
Observers note that the issue cuts deep into Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with financial transparency, especially within the country’s top legislative institution. As SERAP pointed out, it would be a serious dent on the National Assembly’s moral authority if lawmakers fail to uphold the same accountability standards they demand from other government agencies.
As of press time, neither the Office of the Senate President nor the Speaker’s media team had issued any official response to SERAP’s allegations. Nigerians, however, continue to call for a public inquiry into the matter to determine where the missing funds went, and whether the project was ever completed as intended.
The unfolding development has once again placed Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework under the spotlight, as citizens await the next move from both the National Assembly and investigative agencies like the EFCC and ICPC.
