A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has written the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, demanding a Certified True Copy of the 2024 budget highlighting the projects attached to the N3trillion allegedly padded.
The coalition which said the request is made under Sections 1, 4, and 9 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, also demanded a Certified True Copy of constituency projects as benefitted by all senators in the 2024 budget appropriation.
According to the letter signed by the Director of Communication and Strategy, Haruna Abdulsalam for the coalition, the CSOs warned that failure to make those documents available within seven days would force to mobilise for protest for a change in the leadership of the Senate.
The letter titled, “Request for information on allegation of N3.7trillion budget padding and notification of planned mass protest to demand the resignation of the president and the deputy president of the senate,” was dated March 19, 2024.
The allegation of the budget padding, the coalition said, was of grave concern to all Nigerians, especially at the critical time of hunger and starvation and the future adverse effect on the economy and the direct consequences on the living standard of the people.
Abdulsalam said that the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations was established to speak with one voice for the promotion of the rule of law and good governance, moral value, and social justice.
“In an ideal democracy where rule of law, transparency, and accountability is the watchword of those that are privileged to lead, we believe that the allegation by Senator Abdul Ningi should have been referred to a relevant committee for investigation and all evidence and counter evidence deliberated upon and when all fact is exhausted, Nigerians will no doubt pick that which is true from it. But the turn of events suggests that there are questions to be answered by the leadership of the Senate.
“We hereby request the following document: A certified True Copy of the budget highlighting the projects attached to the #3 trillion in contention.
“Certified True Copy of Constituency projects as benefited by all Senators in the budget.”
“For clarity purposes, we wish to state that this information is needed for us to be able to take a position on the whole issue of this budget padding allegation.
“Our plan protest will be hinged on the inability of the Senate through the leadership to avail us with detailed and convincing documents with basic explanations to clarify the alleged anomalies in the budget. For the avoidance of doubt, it is the constitutional right of every citizen to;
“i. Request from government agencies and official details management and running of their offices as it affects the people (FOI ACT 2011).
“ii. Stage peaceful protest of any perceived anomalies as it relates to how the citizens are being led according to the United Nations Charter on Civil Society.
“iii. Every other constitutional means to press home demands on accountability and transparency in governance.”
The coalition reiterated that “if there is no response from your office within Seven days as enshrined in Section 4 of FOI Act, we will be left with no other option than to mobilise over 200 like mind Civil Society Organisations in the Coalition to go ahead with the protest of demanding a change of leadership of the Senate.
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