By Francis Ajuonuma
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded that the leadership of the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, immediately account for the alleged disappearance of ₦18.6 billion earmarked for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) office complex.
The anti-corruption group’s demand, contained in a letter dated October 18, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, followed revelations in the 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which exposed several breaches of financial and procurement regulations in the management of the project.
According to the Auditor-General’s findings, the NASC allegedly paid ₦11.6 billion on August 11, 2020, to an unidentified construction company for the office complex.
A further ₦6.9 billion was later disbursed on November 29, 2023, for what was described as “conversion of the roof garden to office space.”
The payments, the report stated, were made without essential procurement documentation, including a Bill of Quantity, advertisement for bidding, or a Bureau of Public Procurement certificate of ‘No Objection’.
SERAP has therefore called on Akpabio and Abbas to disclose the name of the so-called ‘fictitious’ construction company, including the identities of its directors and shareholders, as well as to explain why the Public Procurement Act was ignored during the award and execution of the project.
“These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of public trust, the Nigerian Constitution, and international anti-corruption obligations,” SERAP wrote.
“The National Assembly cannot effectively carry out its oversight functions when it is itself enmeshed in allegations of corruption and mismanagement.”
The group questioned the rationale behind what it described as an “inflated contract”, noting that the project’s cost rose by ₦6.9 billion without any record of approval for the upward review.
SERAP argued that the absence of a proper needs assessment, bidding process, and contract agreement raises grave suspicion that the funds were misappropriated, diverted, or stolen.
“The Auditor-General fears that the ₦18.6 billion of public funds budgeted for the construction of the NASC office complex and the conversion of the roof garden to office space may be missing. He wants the money accounted for,” the letter stated.
The organisation urged the National Assembly to refer the matter to relevant anti-corruption agencies for a full investigation and possible prosecution of those found culpable.
“Addressing the allegations would restore public confidence in the legislature and show that the National Assembly acts in the public interest, not for private gain,” SERAP said.
The group also warned that if the National Assembly fails to act within seven days of receiving the letter, it will initiate legal proceedings to compel compliance and recovery of any missing funds.
Citing Sections 13, 15(5), and 16 of the 1999 Constitution, SERAP reminded the lawmakers that they are constitutionally bound to uphold transparency, eliminate corruption, and ensure that national resources are managed to serve the common good.
“Poor and vulnerable Nigerians continue to bear the cost of corruption through diminished public services, worsening poverty, and social inequality,” the letter added. “Nigerians have a right to know where their money went and who benefited from this questionable transaction.”
The Auditor-General’s report, published on September 9, 2025, had warned that the entire ₦18.6 billion might have been siphoned under the guise of the National Assembly Commission Office Complex construction. This revelation now puts pressure on the legislative leadership to open its books to public scrutiny.
