Senator Abdul Ningi has remained adamant on his earlier claim that projects worth N3.7 trillion in the 2024 Appropriation Act are not traceable.
Ningi who is the Chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF) doubled down on his claim during an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday.
He had initially made an allegation that the National Assembly debated and passed N25 trillion as the 2024 budget instead of the N28.7 trillion that is being implemented by the federal government.
Ningi had also alleged that the 2024 budget was not fair to all the regions of the country.
“I am not afraid of suspension by the Senate. I stand by what I said: N3.7 trillion not traced to any project in the 2024 Budget. I spoke for myself and not on behalf of the Northern Senator Forum,” said Ningi.
“I never said the federal government is operating with two budgets. I only said N25 trillion was traced to projects and N3.7 trillion was not traced to any project.”
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga said Ningi’s allegation was “false and there is no truth whatsoever in the allegation”.
“Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25 trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly,” said Onanuga.
“We don’t expect a ranking Senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims.
“It is also important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on January 1, 2024 as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7 Trillion.
The National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased the amount proposed by the Executive by N1.2 trillion.”
