Uproar in Senate Plenary as Senators Debate On Budget Comment

Senator Abdul Ningi’s comment over the weekend on the 2024 budget has caused a roar in Tuesday’s Plenary.

The Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District of Bauchi State, Abdul Ningi, during a BBC Hausa Service interview said the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion, adding that there were two versions of the budget.

however, Ningi had on Monday denied the reports, saying he was quoted out of context because he spoke in Hausa.

During Tuesday’s plenary, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, moved a motion for the investigation of Ningi’s claim.

Senator Joel Onawakpo seconded Adeola’s motion, and the senators then spoke on the subject during a heated debate.

In a point of order, Senator Adamu Aliero of the Kebbi Central Senatorial District urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to guarantee a fair trial by enabling the subject of the dispute to speak his side of the tale.

Responding to the motion, the senate president said, “For me, I think this is a very straightforward matter. We have a situation to be the stabilizer of the National Assembly.”

Empire had earlier reported that Northern Senators Forum has distanced itself from the comment made by Senator Abdul Ningi on the 2024 budget.

Senators from the 19 Northern States and the FCT, noted in a statement on Monday that the chairman’s comment was his personal opinion and it is misleading.

According to the NSF, Ningi expressed “his personal opinion, sentiment and unfortunately skewed, incorrect and misleading.”

It added that there was never a time where they held a meeting and mandated Senator Ningi to address the press on the said matter.