How Nigerian Senate Paid N1.7billion For Cars Without Receipts, Deducted Over N200million Taxes Without Remitting

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a civil society organisation, has decried the misappropriation of funds by lawmakers of the upper chamber of Nigeria's National Assembly as revealed by the Auditor-General of the Federation's report.

Taking to its Twitter handle on Friday, SERAP stated that the senators deducted that N176million and N39million as tax from staff salaries with no evidence it was remitted to the relevant authorities. 

The body also noted that N1.7billion was paid by the Senate for the supply of vehicles and other office equipment but there are no supporting documents for the payments.

The tweets read, “Nigeria’s Senate reportedly deducted N176,267,255.31 as PAYE from staff salaries but “there was no evidence to show that the above amount was remitted to the relevant tax authorities.” N39,776,437.54 was also deducted as VAT but no evidence that the money was remitted.

“Nigeria’s Senate reportedly paid N1,718,130,630.24 between February and December 2019 for the supply of vehicles and other office equipment. N657,757,969.05 was also paid between July and December 2019 for the same items. But “there are no supporting documents” for the payments.

“Nigeria's Senate reportedly paid N423,370,000.00 for the supply of utility vehicles and production of National Assembly Logo between August and November 2019. But “there is no evidence of payment.”

On Thursday, SERAP in a series of tweets explained how the members of the House of Representatives obtained N2.5billion as running costs in 2019 but refused to pay back the money.

Also, about 59 members of the House of Representatives who also took loans worth N258 million have refused to pay back the loan.

The National Assembly Service Commission in 2019 reportedly paid N31 million to 59 staff members as "personal cash advances" but failed to retire the money.