Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for Alleging Budget Padding- The Senate took decisive action on Tuesday, suspending Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, for a period of three months. This move came in response to allegations made by Senator Ningi regarding the 2024 budget, which he claimed was padded with a staggering N3 trillion.
The decision to suspend Senator Ningi was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio following substantial support from a majority of senators during deliberations at the Committee of the Whole. “Senator Ningi is hereby suspended for three months from all activities relating to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” declared Mr. Akpabio.
The suspension was not without conditions, however. It was also resolved that if Senator Ningi were to send an apology letter, the Senate leadership would subsequently decide whether to lift the suspension or maintain its course of action.
The catalyst for this action was a point of order raised by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Adeola Olamilekan, during the plenary session. Senator Ningi, who serves as the Chairperson of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), had recently asserted in an interview with BBC Hausa that irregularities amounting to N3 trillion were discovered in the budget.
According to Mr. Ningi, the budget initially presented at N28 trillion was found to be only N25 trillion after thorough scrutiny. This assertion stirred controversy within the Senate and prompted a call for investigation and subsequent action.
The budget padding allegation not only raised concerns within the Senate but also garnered public attention. Senator Olamilekan emphasized the breach of his privilege as a senator and chair of the joint Appropriation Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives. He highlighted discrepancies in the budget process and called for intervention to uphold the integrity of the Senate.
RELATED: Peter Obi Critique’s Tinubu’s Budget on N45 Billion for Travels
Subsequently, Mr. Olamilekan presented evidence to support his claims, including a voice recording and transcript of the interview conducted by BBC Hausa. Other senators echoed his sentiments, urging immediate action to address the allegations and restore public trust in the Senate’s integrity.
In response to these calls, the Senate President granted Senator Ningi an opportunity to defend himself. However, Mr. Ningi denied making the statements attributed to him, asserting that the budget contained anomalies such as the repetition of senatorial districts in allocation for constituency projects.
Despite Senator Ningi’s defense, the Senate proceeded to vote on the matter. A majority of senators supported the motion to suspend Senator Ningi for three months, signaling a firm stance against the alleged misconduct.
In conclusion, the Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Abdul Ningi underscores its commitment to upholding accountability and integrity in governance. This development marks a significant step in addressing the allegations of budget padding and reaffirms the Senate’s role in safeguarding the nation’s interests.
Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for Alleging Budget Padding
One thought on “Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for Alleging Budget Padding”