By – Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Padding allegations against the National Assembly on the increment of 3 trillion naira into the 2024 budget is the major news that is trending in Nigeria.
Senator Abdull Ningi of the opposition People’s Democratic Party from Bauchi State who also double as the Northern Senators Forum Chairman is the brain behind the allegations
Ningi alleged that there is padding of more than 3 trillion naira in the 2024 budget of 28.7 trillion naira passed by the Senate in 2023.
This allegation generated huge arguments among the upper chamber members and Nigerians in general.
The Bauchi Senator made the suspicious statement during an Interview with BBC Hausa recently.
Shortly after his suspension Senator Ningi resign his position as the Chairman of Northern senators coucus which is an umbrella of Senators from the nineteen northern states
President Tinubu’s swift reactions to the padding allegation
On 10th March 2024 the Presidency described Ningi’s allegation as baseless.
President Tinubu’s administration says the claim made by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central that the 2024 national budget was padded is false and baseless.
Ningi’s controversial allegation has questioned the whereabouts of 3 trillion naira in the 2024 28.7 trillion budget.
Bayo Onanigan is the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy. He faulted Senator Ningi’s claim.
The Special adviser to the President said the Nigerian government allowed the National Assembly to jack up the budget by 1.2 trillion naira in the spirit of Democracy.
He added that it was also uncharitable to claim that the 2024 budget was anti-North.
” Following the false claims made by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – led Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget, we consider it appropriate to inform Nigerians that there is no truth whatsoever in the allegation.
Acting under the banner of Northern Senators Forum, Senator Ningi falsely claimed in an interview he granted to BBC Hausa Service, that the National Assembly debated and passed 25 Trillion as the 2024 budget and not 28.7 Trillion that is being implemented by the Federal Government.
To begin with, President Tinubu on November 29, 2023, presented a budget of 27.5 Trillion naira to the joint session of the National Assembly made up of 9.92 trillion recurrent expenditure, Debt Service of of 8.25 trillion, and capital Expenditure of 8.7 trillion nairas.
The National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased the amount proposed by the Executive by 1.2 trillion naira.
In the spirit of Democracy which allows give and take President Tinubu didn’t withhold his assent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly. We want to stress that if the budget figure was teased and made to be different from what the executive proposed, it was the National Assembly that jacked it up in the exercise of its power of appropriation.
2024 Budget as Anti- Northern States
About Senator Ningi’s allegation that the 2024 Budget of Tinubu’s government is Anti – North .The region which has the highest number of States and Population. Onaniga described it as uncharitable.
“On the uncharitable claim that the 2024 budget was ant-North, we found such position as canvassed by Senator Ningi as too far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status” Tinubu’s Special adviser stressed in a statement
Ningi’s suspension for three months by the Senate leadership
During its plenary session on Tuesday 12 March Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months as the upper chamber members described his utterances as a disgrace to the institution of the National Assembly.
The senate charged Ningi to tender an apology to the chamber before proceeding to the suspension.
Adams Oshomole is the former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress -APC and the ex-governor of Edo State . He is presently a serving Senator representing Edo North .
He said he is in the senate because of the good reputation he built over time ,and he is in the chamber of the senate because of that pedigree and maintaining it is very essential to him as he has no godfather or sources as other senators have which pave their way to the National Assembly .
“I Am neither a Southam Senator not northern Senator but a Senator for the Federal Republic of Nigeria .
I want plead for all of us to remember that we have a duty to protect as we agreed to serve Nigeria as privileged citizens” Comrade Oshomole
The former APC National chairman said that after he listen every thing during the session which witnessed different views by other senators he said the senate has already been strippednacked in the market but still agreed that there is remedy to what Ningi has done as he described him as very energetic legislature who made contributions and as vocal person whom he said he respected much.
Senator Oshomole urged the members of the Senate to prioritize unity among themselves over region or religion as their sole duty is to serve Nigerians
PDP’s reactions on the 3 trillion alleged padding and Ningi’s suspension
The Peoples Democratic Party is the main opposition Party in Nigeria. Senator Ningi who hailed from Bauchi State is a member of the PDP.
Amidst the allegations of Budget padding rocking the Senate, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately review the budget.
This is just as the party also warned the leadership of senate not to suppress any investigation into the allegations, insisting that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio must step aside.
Debo Ologunagba is the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP .He slammed the Akpabio-led All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the Senate for seeking to use diversionary press statements to suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged improper insertion of 3.7 trillion naira for non-existing projects in the 2024 budget.
This is contained in a statement recently released by the opposition party .The PDP said from the incoherent, knee-jerk and dismissive statement issued by the APC leadership in the Senate on Thursday, March 14, 2024, it is clear that it is jittery that an open and detailed investigation into the allegation will further expose the perpetrators and how money was allegedly shared among APC lawmakers.
Our Party, standing shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians, insists that Senator Akpabio should step aside and allow for a credible investigation, as he cannot be a judge in this matter.
The PDP also calls on President Bola Tinubu to restore the integrity of the 2024 budget by immediately ordering an open investigation into the alleged insertion as well as a holistic review of the budget.
The PDP stands by its demand that Senator Akpabio should report at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation into the alleged looting of 108 billion naira belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State and the 86 billion alleged contract scam under his watch as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs respectively.
It is highly provocative that at this time when Nigerians are passing through severe economic hardship, the APC leadership in the Senate is busy defending and frustrating investigation into allegations of massive manipulation and looting of resources meant for the wellbeing of the citizens.
The Akpabio-led APC leadership in the Senate ought to know that no amount of threats, harassment, suspension of whistleblowers and attempts to blackmail the opposition through diversionary press statements and sponsored articles in a section of the media can suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged budget padding which is already in the public domain.
The PDP and Nigerians are however not deterred by attacks by the APC leadership in the Senate which is a clear case of corruption fighting back in the face of public scrutiny.” the PDP Spokesman reiterated.
To round up this article is to describe such a situation as unfortunate for both the legislative and the Executive arm of Nigeria’s Federal government.
From the National Assembly perspective it seems many of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives do not have the required knowledge of legislation as they can not scrutinized the budget document presented before them ahead of its passage into law.
It is also clear that the leadership of the senate under Akpabio is unwilling to accept corrections and forge ahead as it infringes into the constitutional right of Senator Ningi which provides him with the freedom of expression.
Suspending Ningi will not solve this kind of anomalies,let Nigerians know the Kind of people to vote as their representatives at both National and states level.
Another issue to look into is that ,the executive Arm of the Nigerian government under President Tinubu is no longer enjoying good will from Nigeria’s due to the economic hardship that continues to grow on a daily basis ,so Nigerians expect less good from APC administration at the Federal government level .
Now there is a serious need for President Tinubu to match words with actions as Nigerians are tired of the economic hardship and the prevailing insecurity which makes life so Vulnerable at this time under his watch.
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