Guardian Nigeria
• Ningi: I insist N3.7tr not linked to any project
• No wrong in 2024 budget, Northern senators disown Ningi
• Jimoh Ibrahim asks IGP to charge Ningi for misinformation
• Akpabio inaugurates panel to probe Buhari’s N30tr Ways and Means, urges confidentiality
• CNPP, CSOs give Akpabio 14-day ultimatum to resign over allegation
A foretaste of the drama expected at today’s Senate plenary ensued yesterday when the chairman, Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF) and former Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) engaged in a heated argument with other Senators over his claim that N3.7 trillion was padded into the 2024 budget passed by the National Assembly.
The Senate is expectedly set for a potentially heated session today as lawmakers convene to address the allegations. Ningi made the claims during an interview aired by the BBC, Hausa Service, at the weekend, alleging that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25 trillion, while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7 trillion.
Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Ningi said he was not afraid of suspension by the Senate as he was prepared to carry his cross. He reiterated his position in the BBC interview, that N3.7 trillion was not traced to any project in the 2024 budget.
According to Ningi, if he is suspended at the end of the day, he would see it as an honour against the backdrop that he believes in one God. He said power is transient, explaining that he spoke for himself and not on behalf of the Northern Senators’ Forum, where he is chairman.
Ningi clarified that there was no time during the interview that he said the Federal Government was operating two budgets. He added that he only said that N25 trillion was traced to projects, but that N3.7 trillion was not traced to any project.
“I said we have established beyond reasonable doubt that N25 trillion so far has a nexus in the budget. That means that there is money, there is a project, and then there is location. But we are yet to ascertain N3 trillion of that budget. We have established the N3 trillion of that budget, we have not established its location and place.
“However, I said going forward, the budget evaluation is ongoing. And I said lastly, the intention of the northern senators, as regards budgetary allocation, was to meet the Senate President with our findings and subsequently meet President Bola Tinubu. If because I said what I would say, then I will be suspended, so be it. It will be an honour,” he told newsmen.
Speaking to reporters after the panel’s meeting, chairman of the budget committee, Solomon Adeola (APC – Ogun West), said the press conference earlier scheduled on Sunday to address the allegations was put on hold to allow the Senate to meet and deliberate on the allegations on Tuesday and thereafter make its position known.
“The Senate has its procedures and rules. Since the allegations did not come from an outsider but a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Senate will meet and deliberate on them on Tuesday before briefing the press,” Adeola said.
The N3 trillion figure represents a significant portion of the proposed budget, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the budgetary process. Ningi reportedly provided detailed documentation to support the claim, alleging that the padding involves inflated project costs, fictitious projects, and funds earmarked for nonexistent government agencies.
While the authenticity of the allegations remains unverified, they have already ignited a firestorm of debate. The Senate session on Tuesday is expected to be a tense affair as lawmakers are likely to engage in heated debate over the allegations, with calls for a transparent and impartial investigation likely to dominate the proceedings.
Already, there are threats of violence that may mar today’s plenary just as Senators expressed divergent views on whether to suspend Ningi. In a fresh twist, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC – Ondo South) has asked the Inspector-General of Police to immediately charge Ningi for what he called criminal misinformation. Ibrahim said it was very embarrassing to say that the country is operating two budgets.
“We of the 10th Senate cannot fold our hands and be looking. This is not true, the Senate and the National Assembly approved only one Appropriation Act for 2024, we never approved two.
“What Ningi said about the Appropriation Act of 2024 is unacceptable, causing uncomfortable pain to our integrity, our children and our family. It is all over the world.
“I have been receiving text messages from alumni of Oxford and Cambridge asking if we have two budgets running in our country. I have decided as a senator representing the good people of Ondo South to ask the Inspector General of Police and the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency charge Ningi for misinformation, criminal misinformation of course, and misconduct likely going to cause the breach of peace.”
This is just as Senators from the 19 Northern states and the FCT, under the aegis of Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF), dissociated themselves from the comments made by Ningi on the 2024 budget and disowning his allegations.
The statement was signed by Senators Aminu Iyal Abbas (Adama); Ibrahim Bamai (Yobe); Abdul Azeez Yar’Adua (Katsina); Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna); Jibri Isah (Kogi); Diket Plang (Plateau); and Saliu Mustapha (Kwara).
The lawmakers submitted that there was never a time where Northern senators held a meeting and mandated Ningi to address the press on the said matter.
The statement further read: “That the budget was presented to the National Assembly during a joint session of the two chambers – Senate and House of Representatives by President Bola Tinubu on November 29, 2023, in line with the requirement of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Both chambers of the National Assembly diligently and meticulously debated, processed, and passed the proposal of the President. And satisfied with it, the President assented to it.
“It is clear that Mr President presented a budget of N27. 5 trillion to the National Assembly and the Assembly passed a budget of N28.7 trillion based on the need to make increases or decreases in the appropriations of the various MDAs, which is in tandem with the legislative powers of the National Assembly to address critical projects and services across various sectors.”
MEANWHILE, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has urged the committee members investigating the payment of N30 trillion ‘Ways and Means’ secured from the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to leave no stone unturned as they must go after those involved.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja while inaugurating the 17-member ad-hoc committee led by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC – Kogi East) probing the N30 trillion ‘Ways and Means’, which was released as a loan to the Federal Government during the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Akpabio charged the committee to spend six weeks in carrying out the exercise.
Akpabio further admonished the lawmakers to shun personal and partisan interests, focus on the task at hand and approach their responsibilities with utmost balance, devotion and impartiality.
Recognising the sensitivity of the investigation at hand, Akpabio reminded them to constantly engage with relevant stakeholders and consultants to provide invaluable insights while maintaining open lines of communication with the executive and the public, but disclosing no aspect of the report until the task is concluded.
The upper legislative chamber is being careful against the temptation of descending into the dirty political arena that may pitch the Bola Tinubu administration against his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
When the Senate debated the matter a fortnight ago, many Senators opposed the idea of probing the N30 trillion Ways and Means. Former President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, was very categorical when he said that the most crucial issue to address now is the rising cost of living in the country.
But President of the Senate, Akpabio, while inaugurating the panel on Monday, charged it to exercise utmost caution in its investigation, particularly in keeping its findings secret.
“Confidentiality is paramount to your work. The information and data we gather during our investigations are sensitive and must be handled with the utmost care and discretion. Adhering to strict protocols will ensure the security and integrity of the information you uncover,” Akpabio said.
HOWEVER, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in conjunction with other allied civil society organisations (CSOs) have demanded the immediate resignation of Akpabio following allegations of budget padding leveled against him by Ningi.
In a statement co-signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, James Ezema, and the National Secretary of the coalition of CSOs, Ali Abacha, the groups urged President Tinubu to rise to the occasion and end the era of budget padding in the country.
Ezema said: “We are quick to note that the name of the President of the Senate for over ten years has come up in countless corruption allegations from his days as the governor of Akwa Ibom State till date.
“It is true that Senator Akpabio denied these allegations, just as he is doing over the budget padding accusation, but these heinous allegations have put a question mark on the image of Akpabio until they are resolved in favour or against the President of the Senate.”
