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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has announced its intention to initiate legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio in relation to the allocation of “holiday allowances” to senators, distributed by the Clerk of the National Assembly.
This controversial decision comes at a particularly challenging period when nearly 70 percent of Nigerians are facing significant economic hardships.
In a concise statement posted on its official social media handle, SERAP declared its intent to file a lawsuit against the Senate President, who had inadvertently disclosed the allocation during Monday’s plenary session.
“SERAP has announced that they are filing a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio in connection with the alleged disbursement of ‘holiday allowances’ by the Clerk of the National Assembly into the ‘diverse accounts’ of senators. This legal action comes at a time when approximately 137 million underprivileged Nigerians are grappling with acute economic challenges,” the statement from SERAP read.
Akpabio’s blunder ignited a storm of controversy across the nation, prompting discussions about the credibility and timing of these monetary transactions. Detractors contend that in a time when a substantial segment of the country’s populace is grappling with economic adversity, such allowances appear not only inequitable but also lacking in empathy.
Specifics of the legal action, encompassing the plaintiffs and the precise allegations, remain undisclosed at this point. Nonetheless, this development underscores escalating unease and intensified examination of the administration of public finances, particularly against the backdrop of the prevailing economic conditions.
The Senate President has not yet released an official statement regarding the allegations and impending legal action and stakeholders across the country eagerly await further developments, with many demanding transparency, accountability, and judicious use of public funds in these challenging times.
