The All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, and other political parties have jointly called for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations raised by Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population. Ningi, representing Bauchi Central under the PDP, claimed that a staggering N3.7 trillion was padded in the 2024 budget.
While these parties have urged for a thorough probe into Ningi’s allegations, some northern senators have distanced themselves from his claims, asserting that Ningi does not speak on their behalf.
Senator Ningi, however, reiterated his stance on Monday, emphasizing that N3.7 trillion could not be adequately accounted for in the 2024 budget. The situation escalated when Senator Jimoh Ibrahim called for Ningi’s arrest, citing concerns over potential disruptions to peace at the National Assembly.
During a press briefing, Ningi reaffirmed his assertion that N3.7 trillion was indeed inserted into the 2024 budget. Nevertheless, he clarified that he was misquoted and never alleged that President Bola Tinubu was managing two budgets simultaneously.
Ningi’s allegations stemmed from an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service), where he claimed that the National Assembly passed a budget of N25 trillion, while the Presidency implemented a larger budget of N28.7 trillion, creating a discrepancy between the approved and executed budgets.
“The one approved by us is N25tn while the one being operated by the Federal Government is N28.7tn
“Apparently, we discovered N3tn was inserted into the budgets for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio’s watch.”
The Bauchi senator was further quoted to have said, “We resolved as the peoples’ representatives to see President Tinubu on this issue, with facts and figures, to ask him if he is aware of this embarrassment or not, then from there we will take action.
“Let Nigerians be patient with us. This is a national issue; it affects all Nigerians irrespective of party, tribe or religion.”
The Senate through its spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) had in a chat with our correspondent refuted the claim on Saturday night, stating that there was no padding whatsoever in the budget.
But during a press conference on Monday, Ningi told journalists that he never said that the President was running two budgets, rather there was N3.7tn in the 2024 budget yet to be accounted for.
No two budgets
He said, “At no time did I say Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing two budgets. There was no time; at no time did I say Bola Tinubu was biased against the North. The Hausa version is there. At no time did I say Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing a N25tn budget.
“I said we have established beyond reasonable doubt that about N25tn so far has a nexus in the budget. That means that there is money, there is a project and then there is location. But we have yet to ascertain N3.7tn of that budget. We have established the N3tn of that budget; we have not established its location and the place.”
Parties demand investigation
But the LP, APC, PDP, New Nigeria People’s Party, and Peoples Redemption Party demanded an investigation into the alleged padding of the 2024 budget
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday that the allegation required attention.
