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 immediately refer allegations surrounding the alleged diversion, misapplication, and unaccounted expenditure of over ₦6.3 billion in constituency project funds to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.
The organisation also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted where sufficient admissible evidence exists and that all misappropriated public funds are recovered and returned to the national treasury.
SERAP further demanded the public disclosure of the identities of contractors and companies, including their shareholders and beneficial owners, that allegedly received constituency project funds but failed to execute the projects.
The anti-corruption organisation said its request was based on findings contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
In a letter dated June 27, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP described the allegations as a serious breach of public trust, the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and international anti-corruption standards.
According to the organisation, persistent allegations of corruption involving constituency projects continue to undermine economic development, weaken public confidence in democratic institutions, and deprive Nigerians of essential public services.
SERAP argued that the National Assembly must demonstrate leadership in combating corruption by conducting thorough investigations into allegations involving projects approved by lawmakers.
The group gave the National Assembly seven days to act on its recommendations, warning that it would pursue legal action in the public interest should the leadership fail to respond within the stipulated period.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General’s report implicated several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
The report allegedly identified numerous financial irregularities, including payments into private bank accounts, procurement breaches, contracts awarded without due process, payments for projects that were never executed, undocumented expenditures, inflated contract values, and failures to account for public funds.
It recommended that the affected funds be recovered and remitted to the Federal Government treasury.
SERAP highlighted several findings from the Auditor-General’s report, including allegations that EHORECON paid over ₦22.9 million into staff members’ private accounts without evidence of how the funds were utilised.
The council was said to have awarded consultancy contracts worth over ₦12 million for abattoir development projects whose deliverables could not be verified.
Contracts valued at more than ₦404 million were allegedly awarded to companies with inadequate registration records and questionable tax clearance certificates.
The report further revealed that capacity-building contracts worth over ₦103 million lacked supporting documentation, and that more than ₦656 million was reportedly spent on constituency and zonal intervention projects without proper authorisation.
Contractors were equally alleged to have received over ₦389 million for abattoir development projects that were allegedly never executed.
Furthermore, twelve contracts worth over ₦563 million were alleged to have been awarded without properly priced engineering bills.
The report also alleged that the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, paid hundreds of millions of naira to contractors for youth empowerment programmes, vocational training, medical outreach, fertiliser supply, solar street light installations, and construction projects without adequate documentation or compliance with procurement regulations.
Similarly, the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, was accused of making questionable mobilisation payments exceeding ₦407 million, awarding contracts to allegedly unqualified contractors, inflating solar project contracts by over ₦192 million, and paying for projects that were either partially executed or not executed at all.
Among the reported cases was a ₦50 million contract for the fencing and installation of a solar-powered borehole in Kebbi State, despite findings that the borehole already existed and no new project was carried out.
The Auditor-General’s report also alleged procurement irregularities within NAPTIP, including contracts awarded to related companies, payments without supporting documents, and fully paid contracts for solar light installations and classroom renovations that were allegedly never executed.
In addition, SERAP noted that NILDS failed to submit audited financial statements covering the period from 2012 to 2022, did not remit over ₦15 million in stamp duties, and spent public funds without appropriate authorisation.
SERAP maintained that corruption in constituency projects disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable Nigerians by limiting access to quality healthcare, education, and other public services while deepening poverty.
The organisation stressed that, as part of its constitutional oversight responsibilities, the National Assembly has a duty to hold MDAs accountable for the prudent management of public resources.
It argued that meaningful progress in the fight against corruption would be difficult unless lawmakers first address allegations of corruption involving constituency projects and agencies under the legislature’s oversight.
SERAP cited Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates public institutions to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.
The organisation also referenced the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and several provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, arguing that the allegations, if established, point to serious violations of transparency, accountability, and due process requirements governing public expenditure.