Nigerian Senate has suspended the Senator representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over his allegation that the 2024 federal budget was padded by his colleagues.
Ningi was suspended after about three hours of debate over his interview in which he alleged that the National Assembly padded the 2024 N28.7tn budget.
A member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim, first moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly and the country by extension.
However, other lawmakers like Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong from Cross River South Senatorial District, moved for the amendment of the motion by Ibrahim. Ekpenyong, who is prayed for the reduction of the suspension.
Ningi had, in the interview on Saturday, alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn.
He was quoted as saying that: “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets. One budget was approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one was implemented by the presidency.
“The one approved by us is ₦25tn while the one operating by the Federal Government is ₦28tn.
“Apparently, we discovered ₦3tn was inserted into the budget for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio’s watch.”