Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Muhammadu Buhari 14 days to cut the cost of governance.
It said that government should within the time frame, put in place transparency and accountability measures that would save money, address projected adverse human rights impacts of the recession, and fast-track the economic recovery process.
The organisation gave the ultimatum in a letter dated November 21, 2020, and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
It blamed the current recession on corruption in the country, stressing that it ccannot be business as usual in the country.
The organisation lamented that decades of mismanagement and corruption, and deep-seated deficiencies in public financial management have directly contributed to higher levels of borrowing and public debts, and consequently, the economic recession.
The letter read in part: “This economic crisis provides an opportunity to prioritise access of poor and vulnerable Nigerians to basic socio-economic rights, and to genuinely recommit to the fight against corruption. The country cannot afford getting back to business as usual.
“The president should put the country’s resources at the service of human rights, and to support the less well-off to enjoy an adequate standard of living through cutting the cost of governance and implementing bold transparency and accountability measures in your government’s response to Nigeria’s second recession in five years.
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“Implementing human rights, transparency, and accountability measures would save money, address projected adverse human rights impacts of the recession, and fast-track the economic recovery process. It is not too late to take urgent measures that would put the country’s wealth and resources to work for the common good of all Nigerians.
“Decades of mismanagement and corruption, and deep-seated deficiencies in public financial management have directly contributed to higher levels of borrowing and public debts, and consequently, the economic recession. Successive governments have squandered the promise afforded by the country’s natural wealth and resources.”
The organisation further bemoaned the fact that the country’s resources have been squandered on the political elite rather than on projects that will positively impact on every citizen.
“The paltry resources Nigeria invests in essential public goods and services that would benefit ordinary Nigerians can be partly explained by the high spending of public funds to finance a life of luxury for members of the National Assembly, state governors, and other powerful politicians.
“The country’s resources appear to have been used almost exclusively for the benefit of the political elites rather than on projects that would ensure the right to an adequate standard of living, the maximum welfare, prosperity, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality.
“SERAP is seriously concerned about the adverse consequences of the economic crisis on the human rights of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, including denying them access to essential public goods and services such as healthcare, education, clean water, and regular electricity supply.
“SERAP is seriously concerned about the adverse consequences of the economic crisis on the human rights of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, including denying them access to essential public goods and services such as healthcare, education, clean water, and regular electricity supply,” the letter added.
According to the letter, SERAP will sue the federal government if at the expiration of the 14 days, nothing is done.
