ALLEDGED BUDGET PADDING: NINGI MAY BE REINSTATED SOON.

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Senator Abdul Ningi who was suspended by the Nigerian senate after alleging the 2024 budget had projects that couldn’t be traced gulping up to ₦3.7 trillion may be on his way back to the red chamber as senior members say the issues are “being resolved amicably”. Same source alleges the budget padding saga was a “distraction” concocted to “tarnish the image of the national assembly”.

The senior members of the national assembly say Senator Ningi will be reinstated “if he tenders a public apology to the Senate.”

“I can tell you there is no tension in the Senate. The Senate remains one. The allegation about budget padding is just a ploy to tarnish the image of the senate under Godswill Akpabio who has shown uncommon commitment towards tackling the various challenges confronting the country by fostering effective collaboration with the Executive without jeopardizing the principle of separation of power.

“The N3.7 trillion that was mentioned represents the budget of government owned enterprises (GOEs) and they are expected to come to the Senate to defend their budget because the details are not always in the entire estimate. So, where is the budget padding allegation coming from? The budget was prepared by the executive. The House of Representatives plays more role in scrutinizing the budget and so where’s this allegation coming from if not because some people felt they should be the President of the Senate and not Senator Akpabio.

“There was also the allocation for Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs) for members of the National Assembly for their constituencies. The money is not being released to any lawmaker, but this is in form of projects for their constituencies”, the lawmaker who did not wish to be name said.

The allegations from senator Ningi and consequent suspension have resulted in calls from various stakeholders for the 2024 budget to be properly scrutinized and some have alleged the damning allegations are being swept under the rug.

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