NewStats: 3,262,850 , 8,178,360 topics. Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025 at 07:48 PM 3v5i6s

COVID-19: SERAP asks Lawan, Gbajabiamila to give N37bn NASS renovation fund to states, FCT

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Socio-Economic Rights and ability Project (SERAP) has sent an urgent appeal to the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila urging them to “immediately make a public commitment to redirect the N37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex to give N1 billion to each of the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as COVID-19 direct reliefs and benefits to the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”

SERAP said: “We applaud the patriotic steps and voluntary contributions already made by the National Assembly towards fighting COVID-19 in the country. We now urge you to make major strides to national efforts to deal with one of the greatest threats facing the country by immediately redirecting the N37 billion to provide direct and tangible benefits to the poorest and most vulnerable people among us.”

In the letter dated 11 April, 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Nigeria is at a crossroads and National Assembly leaders and must now decide whether to continue to look after themselves and do little for the country’s poorest or make commitment to redirect the N37 billion to help ameliorate the suffering caused by COVID-19 restrictions.”

According to SERAP: “While some of the authorities’ responses to COVID-19 across the country may be necessary to stop the spread of the disease and save lives, we are concerned that the prevailing situation has taken its toll on the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people who continue to endure the grimmest of conditions in several states and the FCT.”

SERAP’s urgent appeal, read in part: “We also urge you to immediately advise President Muhammadu Buhari and Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to urgently implement your commitment to redirect the N37 billion to provide direct and tangible benefits and reliefs to the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”

“The money must be spent now to serve the public good. Spending the N37 billion as proposed would increase the ability of states and FCT authorities to provide COVID-19 reliefs and benefits. It would not cause any budget deficit. But assuming it does, it would be a good deficit, as it would serve the public good.”

“Going ahead to spend N37 billion to renovate the National Assembly complex even when COVID-19 is over would further undermine the social contract in Nigeria, and hurt the poorest and most vulnerable people across the 36 states and FCT, as it would limit the ability of the authorities to provide much needed benefits and to these Nigerians, and undermine efforts to reduce the impact of the disease on the country.”
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“Giving the N37 billion to states and FCT would be in the public interest at this time of national crisis, as it would improve the chances of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people to live a life of dignity while obeying authorities’ directives to stay at home.”

“Without sufficient COVID-19 direct reliefs and monetary benefits to these Nigerians, many may be forced to turn to criminal activities as their only perceived options for surviving. Redirecting the N37 billion renovation fund would help to improve the conditions of the people.”

“We urge you to invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (IC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the civil society to monitor the spending of any redirected funds to the 36 states and FCT, to ensure that the funds are spent to the poorest and most vulnerable people, such as pensioners, people living with disabilities (PWDs), and not diverted, stolen or mismanaged.”

“The appalling quality of life, and rapidly growing levels of suffering among the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people are harmful to equity and undermine respect for human rights.”

“We hope that the above would help guide your actions in immediately acting to redirect the N37 billion as proposed. We would be happy to discuss any of these issues in more detail with you.”

“Please accept the expression of our highest consideration. Thanking you in advance of your urgent attention to the matter.”

http://serap-nigeria.org/covid-19-serap-asks-lawan-gbajabiamila-to-give-n37bn-nass-renovation-fund-to-states-fct.ngo/

One of the best ways to celebrate Easter 2020 is by keeping your heart pure and filling it with utmost love. I wish you all a very happy Easter Sunday!

And if they don't??

SERAP should SHARAP jere!

What's the difference between 5 & 6? The N37Billion renovation funds have been placed on "Latter Looting" by the Senate due to the pandemic.

Calling for the said money to be distributed to States means "Express Looting".

Afterall, we commoners never see any money. Na so so Audio sharing we dey hear.

Ghana don enter one chance

Emily22:
H

H for Hoe

It is a good suggestion but they won't take such advice, and if they do, another crooks will still loot the money.

What a brilliant idea.

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Let's keep our fingers crossed and see how that pans out, Our lawmakers are dumb anyways, I know they gonna disregard the request.

I don't know why they are being reminded of such a thing... Our hopsitals are in shambles and all they care is to waste 37b in renovating a building that will never yield benefit to the country's economy or welfare.

They should be forced not just to redirect that money but also for them to sell off all those cars they bought.

For us to move forward in this country we must stop being wasteful.

These guys are just pulling the senators legs cos they know they won't do it. Are senators are greedy and ignorant.

Nice. This is how it should be cause without the people, the national Assembly has no relevance

But rather than give it to state, give it to the CBN, let each fund donated go into citizens

Let there be transparency and ability!!!

That's the only way, citizens can have access to these funds and be able to utilize it to cushion the effect of this Covid-19!!!

That would be a good one from the National Assembly, even the new cars should be sold!!! They have more than enough already!!!

Hmmmmm..... Things will definitely not remain the same .

It is a natural tendency for people with very little intellectual capacity to be incapable of seeing beyond their egoistic needs. These puerile souls when they get to the helm of power in turn possess followers that are like them and are thus satisfied with the crumbs of their masters. Since the mob constitutes the majority, these idiots are thus guaranteed electoral power to perpetuate intellectual dormancy and economic stagnation till they produce a leader like Buhari, a genuine dullard, to complete the ruination of an hitherto failing state.

No time for unnecessary expenditures in the face of this pandemic. We need to give priority to the essentials like health and social welfare.

Lol, even if you put a gun to thier faces, they will rather offer you a cut than dash the entire money to d states for the benefits of the citizens.

;Da

Can they? Never.

That 37bn can go round 37,000 households at N100,000 each.

Which states??

Our legislators are ALWAYS united in corruption. They would rather die than give up that money.

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I hope they’ve taken that renovation nonsense out of the new revised budget...
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Is this how we are going to be wasting resources on Relief that never gets to the poor and is always stolen ?

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A nice one from SERAP.

Just imagine earmarking a whopping N37billiion for some phoney "renovation" while the masses die of hunger.

Wicked idiots!

What a country! The pains in my heart are much for our nation.

Which states so that they will embezzle it abi?let Dem give it to d masses.

Serap no dey tire ni

It's impossible for those useless law breakers to do that... It's only God that can help us out in this country.. Not this useless looters