The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, says that Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari’s budget on local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, sitting allowance, welfare package and office building is bigger than what has been allocated to 14 teaching hospitals in the country.
SERAP, in a suit filed by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo on Friday last week, is seeking to slash the budget and present a reviewed appropriation bill to the National Assembly, NASS.
“The government would continue to borrow to fund the country’s budget until there is a substantial cut to the cost of governance.
“It is in the public interest to stop the government from spending so much money on these items.
“Persistent borrowing is neither sustainable nor fair to the Nigerian people.
“According to reports, the proposed N26 billion on travels, meals, refreshments and the presidential wing of the State House Clinic is more than the proposed allocations for ongoing and new projects in 14 teaching hospitals combined,” the suit reads.
Listing some of the health institutions and their budget, SERAP said, “N19.17 billion is allocated to the following teaching hospitals:
“UNILAG Teaching Hospital—N1.69bn; ABU Teaching Hospital—N2.38bn; University College Hospital, Ibadan—N1.49bn; and UNN Teaching Hospital—N1.38bn,” among others.
SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to publish spending details on the State House Medical Centre since May 29, 2015.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing.
