The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to promptly refer allegations of the misappropriation and diversion of over N6.3 billion in constituency project funds to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and potential prosecution.
SERAP also issued a seven-day ultimatum to Akpabio and Abbas, warning that it will pursue legal action if no steps are taken regarding the concerns raised in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 report.
The civil society organisation made the demands in a letter dated June 27, 2026, and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
It further appealed to the National Assembly leadership to ensure those found culpable face prosecution where there is sufficient evidence, and that all diverted or unaccounted public funds are recovered and deposited into the government treasury.
SERAP also called for the public disclosure of the identities of contractors and companies that received constituency project funds but allegedly failed to carry out the awarded projects, including details of their shareholders and beneficial owners.
The organisation stated that it based its demands on the Auditor-General’s 2022 report, published on September 9, 2025, which allegedly uncovered widespread financial irregularities involving constituency projects across multiple federal ministries, departments, and agencies.
The findings pointed to alleged payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded in breach of procurement rules, payments for projects that were never executed, undocumented expenses, inflated contracts, and other procurement irregularities.
Among the agencies mentioned in the report are the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
SERAP claimed that EHORECON paid over N22.9 million from constituency project funds into staff members’ private accounts without proof of how the money was used.
The Auditor-General also flagged hundreds of millions of naira allegedly spent on consultancy services, capacity-building programmes, modern abattoir projects, and other contracts that were either undocumented, irregularly awarded, or never carried out.
The report further accused the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, of making hundreds of millions of naira in payments to contractors for vocational training, youth empowerment, fertiliser supply, and other projects without supporting documentation or adherence to procurement procedures.
Also, the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, was accused of making questionable mobilisation payments, awarding contracts to unqualified contractors, inflating the cost of solar power projects by over N192 million, and paying contractors for projects that were abandoned or never completed.
SERAP also highlighted findings against NAPTIP, in which contractors were allegedly paid millions of naira for awareness campaigns, solar light installations, and classroom renovations that were either irregularly awarded or left uncompleted despite full payment.
The organisation further pointed to the Auditor-General’s findings against NILDS, including its failure to submit audited financial statements for ten years, non-remittance of over N15 million in stamp duties, and unauthorised expenditure.
Describing the allegations as a serious breach of public trust, SERAP stated that corruption in constituency projects continues to hinder economic development, diminish public confidence in democratic institutions, and deny Nigerians access to essential public services.
“The National Assembly has a responsibility to confront allegations of corruption involving constituency projects if it is to perform its constitutional oversight role effectively,” the organisation declared.
SERAP contended that the allegations may constitute violations of the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Public Procurement Act, and Nigeria’s international anti-corruption commitments, emphasising that those responsible must be held accountable.
