2024 Budget Padding Allegation: Senate Suspends Ningi For 3 Months

 

The National  Assembly ( Senate) has  suspended Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District for  alleging  that the 2024 budget was padded to the tune of N3.7 trillion, and that Federal Government was implementing two separate budgets. 

The Senate also explained that the N3.7 trillion allegedly padded in the 2024 Appropriation Act was for statutory transfers to agencies of government on first line charge, which allocations were not contained in the bulky budget document for other establishments not on first line charge category.

In the said interview, Ningi claimed that the sum of N3.7 trillion was padded in the 2024 budget, just as he alleged that the North was seriously shortchanged in the Appropriation Act project allocations.

This was as pandemonium characterised Senate plenary while the Chamber was considering the contentious allegation by Ningi, which has dominated the social, conventional and international media platforms since Saturday.

Immediately after the Senate adopted votes and proceedings of the last legislative day, Senator Solomon Adeola, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, brought a motion to the floor of the Chamber, anchored on matter of urgent public importance and breach of his personal privileges.

Senator Adeola expressed his frustration over the breach of his rights as a Senator, who had actively participated in the budgeting process. calling for immediate action to address the issue and protect the integrity of the budgeting process and the Senate as a whole.

Adeola also presented a full transcript of Ningi’s interview with the BBC Hausa Service to the Senate, along with the voice recording of the interview, which was played for all Senators to hear. 

He argued that Ningi had not sought the facts before making such serious allegations and urged the Senate to deliberate on the matter and take appropriate action to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the Senate and in the country in general.

Senator Joel Onowakpa, from Delta South, who seconded the motion, criticized Ningi for attempting to incite the public against the government by casting aspersions on the national budget, emphasizing the need for decisive action to preserve the integrity of the budgeting process and maintain public trust.

Other Senators supported Adeola's motion, expressing their concerns about the implications of Ningi’s allegations on the individual Senators and the institution of the National Assembly. 

In his defense, Ningi insisted as he did in his press briefing on Monday, that he was quoted out of context in the interview due to the language barrier, as he had conducted the interview in Hausa. 

However, he admitted that he hired a consultant to review the budget, and according to the consultant’s findings, approximately N3.7 trillion could not be traced to any specific projects or locations.

This allegation led to heated arguments and agitations in the Chambers, with Senators raising various points of order and rules to support their positions. 

The tensed atmosphere led to a period of pandemonium, which lasted for some minutes before the situation was brought under control by the President of the Senate, who presided over the plenary session.

In response to the allegations, Ningi made attempt to defend himself, stating that he never explicitly claimed that the budget was padded, saying that his initial statement about two budgets being in operation had been misinterpreted and manipulated. 

Ningi also highlighted the discrepancies in budget allocations to different senatorial districts, pointing out that some districts received significantly more funds than others.

Ningi’s defense was met with mixed reactions from the Senate. Some Senators urged caution and called for a fair hearing, allowing Ningi the opportunity to present his side of the story while others criticized Ningi for causing unnecessary controversy and tarnishing the image of the Senate.

At this juncture, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, intervened, emphasizing the need for unity and stability within the Senate and urged Senators to focus on their responsibilities as lawmakers and avoid engaging in personal attacks or divisive actions. 

Akpabio highlighted the role of the media in sensationalizing issues and urged Senators to work together to address the concerns raised by the allegations.

He also revealed that he had commissioned a consultant to review the budget, following a request from Ningi and another Suleiman Kawu, expressing disappointment with the lack of detailed information provided by the consultants and their decision to grant an interview to the BBC before presenting their findings to the Senate. 

As the proceedings continued, tensions remained high, with Senators expressing their frustrations and concerns, as some Senators felt that their reputations had been unfairly tarnished by the allegations, while others called for a focus on ethical standards and professionalism within the Senate.

Godswill Akpabio also pointed out that Senators should be the stabilizers of the National Assembly rather than being agents of distabilisation.

While speaking, Senator Olalere Oyewumi, who is the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, made it clear that they were not imposed as leaders of the Senate, contrary to insinuations by Senator Abdul Ningi and Suleiman Kawu, noting that the present minority Leader, Abba Moro, emerged by winning with 42 votes.

Sen Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) who rose on order 36 on the right to fair hearing, said it is a fundamental human right, urging that it was fair to give Ningi time and opportunity to defend himself against allegations leveled against him.

As Aliero was still speaking, Ningi entered with documents and dropped on his table and started speaking when he had not been recognized by the President of the Senate.

When eventually recognised to speak, Ningi said that he accepted 80 percent of the translation read by Senator Adeola, pointing out however, that he was misquoted in the translation. 

His words: "I never said the budget was padded. The beginning of this brouhaha is the saying that two budgets are in operation. This is a fake contribution that was forwarded. I do not know the author of this. The issue of 28 trillion and N25 trillion, I have said that. We have discovered that there is no nexus, no amount of money to a location. And I said, work is in progress. 

“I said categorically that the president power stops at presenting the budget because there is nothing the national assembly will do on the budget that is padding because they have powers to work on the budget. 

“Mr president, going through the budget with its bogus anomalies, some senatorial districts have up to 20 billion and my senatorial district does not have up to N2 billion. Some have 50 billion, some N30 billion some not up to N1 billion. 

“As I speak to you, I don't know your take home pay. You make available cars, I don't know how much was spent on your cars, I don't know how much they spent on Senators cars. As I stand here, people are abusing me, I don't have a single car. I don't know the number of your aides, and the number of the aides of the Deputy Senate President. 

Responding, Akpabio accused Ningi of bundling a lot of issues together, adding that Ningi and Kawu requested for a meeting which he needed to report to the Senate. 

Senator Sani Musa (Niger East) said that he was disappointed not only in the way and manner Ningi and Kawu portrayed the Senate in the eyes of Nigerians and the world.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), who stood for additional prayers to Senator  Adeola's motion, urged that Senator Ningi should be suspended for a period of 12 months without any privileges and as well stay away from the National Assembly. 

Jimoh also said that Senator Kawu should be warned against posting information distorting facts and should be made to apologize to the Senate.

Senator Ede Daminone (Delta Central) said that Ningi was given the opportunity to apologize but he did not, and therefore, seconded the motion for Ningi to be suspended for 12 months. 

However, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross Rivers South) asked that Ningi be suspended for six months while Senator Buhari Abdulfatai brought an amendment that the suspension period be reduced to three months. 

Garba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South) who seconded the motion said since what was reported was untrue, the suspension should be for three months, but that if Ningi writes an apology letter to the Senate, he should be recalled. 

Also, Sani Musa (Niger East) supported the amendment that said Senator Ningi should be suspended for three months and that he should be given time to write an apology letter and should be recalled thereafter. 

Ruling after a voice vote, Senstor Akpabio said: “Distinguished Senator Ningi is hereby suspended for three months from the Senate of the federal Republic of Nigeria.”