Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an urgent appeal to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila urging them to immediately make a public commitment to redirect the N37 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex to give N1 billion to each of the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as COVID-19 direct reliefs and benefits to the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
In the letter dated 11 April 2020 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said Nigeria is at a crossroads and National Assembly leaders and members must now decide whether to continue to look after themselves and do little for the country’s poorest or make commitment to redirect the N37 billion to help ameliorate the suffering caused by COVID-19 restrictions.
According to SERAP While some of the authorities’ responses to COVID-19 across the country may be necessary to stop the spread of the disease and save lives, the prevailing situation has taken its toll on the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people who continue to endure the grimmest of conditions in several states and the FCT.