Trouble Looms As Akpabio Receives Strong Letter ‘Affecting’ Wike’s Role

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is being urged to withhold approval for an alleged plan by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to construct a lavish residence for the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) conveyed this request in a letter dated December 2. Specifically, SERAP implores Akpabio to reject the proposed expenditure of N15 billion by the FCT Minister on the Vice President’s residence.

The group further calls on Akpabio to assert the Senate’s authority and constitutional oversight roles, discouraging the allocation of N2.8 billion for FCTA publicity and any other potentially wasteful spending outlined in the 2023 supplementary budget and the 2024 budget proposed by President Bola Tinubu.

SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, disclosed this information in a statement on Sunday.

The Senate has the constitutional duties to ensure that Mr Wike’s proposed spending is entirely consistent and compatible with constitutional provisions including his oath of office. All public officials remain subject to the rule of law,” the statement read.

“The National Assembly including the Senate has a constitutional responsibility to address the country’s debt crisis, including by rejecting wasteful and unnecessary spending to satisfy the personal comfort and lifestyles of public officials.

“The National Assembly cannot continue to fail to fulfil its oversight function. The Senate must assert and demonstrate its independence by checking and rejecting all wasteful and unnecessary spending by the executive.”

According to the group, it would be a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for the Senate to approve the plan to spend N15 billion on ‘a befitting residence’ for the vice president at a time when the Federal Government is set to spend 30% (that is, N8.25 trillion) of the country’s 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion on debt service costs.