The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to provide immediate explanations regarding alleged missing funds totalling N18.6 billion meant for the construction of the National Assembly Commission Office Complex.
The civil society organisation made this demand following revelations in the 2022 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on 9th September 2025, which documented what it described as grave financial irregularities in the handling of the project funds.
In a letter dated 18th October 2025 and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged the National Assembly leadership to “disclose the name of the alleged ‘fictitious construction company’ that reportedly collected N18.6bn for the construction of the National Assembly Commission Office Complex, including the names and details of the directors, shareholders and the company’s address.”
The audit report revealed that the National Assembly Service Commission paid over N11.6 billion to “an unknown construction company” for the construction of the commission’s complex on 11th August 2020. According to the report, an additional N6.9 billion was paid to the same company on 29th November 2023 “for the conversion of the roof garden to office space.”
SERAP expressed concern that the contract was allegedly awarded without following due process as stipulated in the Procurement Act. “Both contracts were reportedly awarded without any needs assessment, newspaper advertisements, bidding process, contract agreement, bidders’ quotations and without any approval by the Federal Executive Council,” the letter stated.
The organisation also questioned the rationale behind what it termed the “inflation of the contract by N6.9 billion for the conversion of the roof garden to office space” and why no approval was obtained for the upward review of the contract.
“These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and national and international anti-corruption obligations,” Oluwadare wrote.
SERAP argued that the National Assembly can only effectively perform its oversight and anti-corruption roles if it demonstrates exemplary leadership by probing allegations of corruption and mismanagement involving its own commission.
“The National Assembly ought to live up to its constitutional responsibilities by upholding and defending the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law,” the organisation stated.
The letter further emphasised that addressing these allegations would improve public confidence and trust in the ability of the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional and oversight responsibilities whilst adhering to the highest standards of integrity.
“It would also show that the National Assembly is acting in the best interest of the people, and not for personal interest,” SERAP added.
The audit report indicated that the contract was awarded without a Bill of Quantity for the upward review, and the Bill of Quantity for the N11.6 billion contract was not priced. Additionally, there was no Bureau of Public Procurement’s Certificate of ‘No Objection’ for the projects.
The Auditor-General expressed fears that the N18.6 billion of public funds budgeted for the construction of the commission’s office complex and the conversion of the roof garden to office space may be missing and called for the money to be accounted for.
SERAP warned that the missing funds may have been misappropriated, diverted or stolen, noting that such violations reflect the continuing failure of the National Assembly and its commission to uphold principles of transparency and accountability.
“Poor and vulnerable Nigerians continue to bear the heavy economic and social costs of corruption. Corruption exposes them to additional costs to pay for health, education and administrative services,” the organisation stated.
The civil society group cited Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires public institutions including the National Assembly to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. It also referenced Section 13, which imposes clear responsibility on the National Assembly to conform to and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.
SERAP further noted that Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the United Nations Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources.
The organisation gave the National Assembly leadership seven days from the receipt or publication of the letter to take the recommended measures, failing which it threatened to “take all appropriate legal actions to compel you, the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission to comply with our request in the public interest.”
SERAP also urged the National Assembly leadership to refer the alleged violations of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s national and international anti-corruption obligations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, as well as the recovery and remittance of the public funds into the treasury.
“Explaining the whereabouts of the missing public funds, publishing the details of the construction company which collected the money and ensuring the prosecution of the perpetrators and the recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest,” the organisation concluded.
