SERAP threatens legal action against NASS over alleged N6.3bn constituency fund diversion

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the leadership of the National Assembly to launch a comprehensive investigation into allegations that more than N6.3 billion allocated for constituency projects was diverted, misapplied or remains unaccounted for, warning that it will institute legal proceedings if no action is taken within the stipulated period.

In a letter dated June 27, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the anti-corruption and rights advocacy organisation urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to immediately refer the allegations contained in the 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.

SERAP also called on the National Assembly leadership to ensure that all constituency project funds found to have been diverted or misappropriated are fully recovered and paid back into the public treasury.

The organisation further demanded the public disclosure of the identities of contractors, including their shareholders and beneficial owners, who allegedly received public funds for constituency projects but failed to execute the contracts.

According to SERAP, the findings contained in the Auditor-General’s report expose widespread financial irregularities involving several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the implementation of constituency projects across the country.

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Among the agencies identified in the report are the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

The Auditor-General’s report reportedly documented multiple instances of financial misconduct, including payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded in violation of procurement regulations, payments for projects allegedly never executed, undocumented expenditures, procurement irregularities and inflated contract values amounting to billions of naira.

Citing specific findings, SERAP alleged that the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria paid more than N22.9 million into the private bank accounts of staff members without providing evidence of how the funds were utilised.

The organisation further claimed that the council awarded consultancy, training and constituency project contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira without adequate documentation, while several projects, including the construction of modern abattoirs and sanitation initiatives, were allegedly never executed despite full payment to contractors.

Similarly, SERAP highlighted allegations involving the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, where contractors reportedly received hundreds of millions of naira for youth empowerment programmes, agricultural training and other constituency projects without proper procurement records or verifiable evidence that the programmes were implemented.

The Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, was also cited for allegedly making questionable mobilisation payments to contractors, awarding contracts to firms that failed to meet procurement requirements and disbursing public funds for projects that were either abandoned or never commenced.

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According to SERAP, the reported financial irregularities undermine public trust in government institutions, weaken service delivery and contribute to worsening poverty by depriving citizens of development projects intended to improve their welfare.

The organisation argued that the National Assembly must demonstrate genuine commitment to fighting corruption within the constituency project framework if it expects to effectively carry out its constitutional oversight responsibilities over government agencies.

SERAP maintained that the alleged violations breach several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Public Procurement Act, stressing that transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources are indispensable to strengthening public confidence in governance.

The organisation insisted that those responsible for the alleged diversion or mismanagement of public funds should be held accountable regardless of their status, while all illegally diverted funds should be recovered for the benefit of Nigerians.

It warned that if the National Assembly leadership fails to initiate the requested investigation and related actions within seven days of receiving its letter, it would have no alternative but to seek judicial intervention in the public interest to compel compliance with the law and ensure accountability over the management of constituency project funds.