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Published on 2024-03-24 00:21:47
The Nigerian Senate was recently embroiled in a budget padding scandal after Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi raised an alarm in an interview with the BBC Hausa. He alleged that President Bola Tinubu was implementing a 2024 budget that differed from what was discussed and approved by the National Assembly. As a result, Senator Ningi was suspended for three months by the Senate, as it was deemed that he could not provide concrete evidence to support his claims.
Following Senator Ningi’s allegations, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe, representing Cross River North senatorial district, also raised concerns about some senators receiving around N500 million each for constituency projects in the 2024 budget. These allegations sparked controversy and raised questions about the integrity of the National Assembly. While some called for the removal of the Senate President, others urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter.
One individual who spoke out on the scandal was Barrister Oladotun Hassan, who urged the Senate leadership to allow the EFCC to investigate. He emphasized that all 108 senators, including Senator Ningi, had been implicated in the scandal and that resignation was not the solution.
President Bola Tinubu addressed the budget padding allegations while hosting Senate leaders during an Iftar event. He defended the integrity of the Senate leadership and emphasized that critics did not understand the intricacies of the budget. Despite his comments, several senators publicly admitted to receiving more than N500 million for constituency projects in the 2024 budget.
Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senator representing Ekiti Central, acknowledged receiving over N500 million for constituency projects during a Senate debate. He urged Nigerians to monitor the use of the funds for the designated projects. Senator Ali Ndume, a vocal lawmaker, also confessed to receiving funds from the budget, highlighting disparities in allocations among senators. Similarly, Senator Ned Nwoko disclosed receiving up to N1 billion for constituency projects in the 2024 budget.
In the midst of the scandal, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi resigned as the Northern Senators’ Forum chairman following his suspension over the budget padding allegations. His resignation came shortly after he accused the federal government of implementing a budget that exceeded what was approved by the Senate.
The controversy surrounding the budget padding scandal has cast a shadow over the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and raised concerns about transparency and accountability in government spending. The public admission of several senators receiving substantial funds for constituency projects has further fueled the need for a thorough investigation into the matter.
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