By Kingsley Okoye/Naomi Sharang
Abuja, March 12,2024
Senate on Tuesday explained that the N3trillion alleged to be padded in the 2024 budget was actually statutory transfers to first line charge agencies of government not domiciled in the ministries.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity Sen. Yemi Adaramodu gave the explanation, while speaking with journalists on the suspension of Sen. Abdul Ningi over the allegation of padding of the 2024 budget.
The Senate had suspended Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) for three months from all activities of the upper chamber over the 2024 Budget padding allegation.
The upper chamber’s resolution was sequel to a motion by Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun) during Tuesday’s plenary.
The motion was titled: “Urgent Need to Address the False Allegations Against the Senate and the Presidency on the 2024 Appropriation Act by Sen. Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central).”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the BBC Hausa Service had reported Ningi as saying that President Bola Tinubu was operating two different budgets for 2024.
It said Ningi had claimed that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as 2024 budget and not the N28.7 trillion that was being implemented by the Federal Government.
NAN reports that the initial prayers of the upper chamber was “allow for immediate deliberation of the matter and take appropriate action deemed fit in the overriding public interest and to prevent break down of law and order.
“Take further necessary steps to correct the wrong impression in public domain of 2024 budget created by the BBC interview and other national media houses and social media platforms by Sen. Ningi.
“And amplified by Sen. Suleiman Kawu (NNPP-Kano) through his facebook account and other social media platforms; and
“Take any further decision as the Senate deems fit and proper to safeguard the integrity of the 2024 Budget which is pivotal to the revamping of our economy.”
Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) had moved for an additional prayer that Ningi be suspended for an initial period of 12 months while Sen. Edeh Dafinone (APC-Delta) seconded.
But, Sen. Garba Maidoki (PDP-Kebbi) moved a motion for an amended prayer that the suspension should be for three months which was seconded by Sen. Sani Musa (APC-Niger).
Earlier, moving the motion, Adeola as Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, said that the additional increase of N1.2 trillion was presented by the President during the appropriation process.
“This was through additional funding requests.
“The additional source of funding for the increase came from the increase in the benchmark of naira to dollar from N750-N800, increase in Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) revenue and other sources.
“The false allegations including that of the 2024 Budget being against the “North” has since generated debate in the media and general public with aspersions on all senators, the Senate and the National Assembly.”
In his own defence, Ningi said, “I think Sen. Adeola has done a fair job except on some issues that I do not understand. I never said the budget was padded.
“I never issued any of these statements. This is a fake contribution that was forwarded. I do not know the author of this,” Ningi told the Senate.
In his contribution, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele said what Ningi had set to do “was tantamount to a civilian coup.”
Earlier, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said that “Ningi told me he had paid the consultant N30 million to conduct the investigation.
“Ningi called some of us for a meeting. When he told me this, I told him I would like to see the details.
“But I didn’t receive it, but you had the opportunity to attend a BBC interview. It’s only you that has the document you have. I don’t have it.
“I want Nigerians to know that what President Bola Tinubu presented to the National Assembly was N27.5 trillion, at no time did the President present N25 trillion.
“The integrity of this Chamber has been totally damaged,” he said.
In his interface with the media, Adaramodu said the 10th Senate needed to be treasured as pillar of democracy and would only do what would promote national interest
He said there was nothing like budget padding, stressing that the false narrative on N3trillion padding was a demonstration of error of arithmetic and innocence of procedure by the protagonists of budget padding.
“The N3 trillion is for statutory transfers of government agencies on the first line charges.”
He listed the agencies to include Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Public Complaints Commission, National Judicial Council, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger -Delta Development Commission (NDDC) among others.
He also dismissed the issue of provision of N500 million as constituency fund to senators, describing the allegation as a fairy tale.
He urged journalists to study the 2024 budget to investigate allocations to the National Assembly.
He said the issue of budget padding was a negative connotation and a serious crime in budgeting, hence senate didn’t take it lightly.
“It is a matter of integrity, issue of budget has been put to rest as the protagonists of the budget padding were called to substantiate it and they could not prove it but the allegations cannot just go without being attended to.
“The Appropriation Act is a public document and when it was done, it was done in the public glare and it was N28.77 trillion and so for someone to say N25 trillion was what was approved is scary.
“Statutory transfers for agencies on first line charge, that are not domiciled in the Ministries was what Ningi said was padded, that the allocation cannot be traced.”
He reiterated that the N3trillion was not padded, was not missing, but was for agencies of government that were placed on first line charge.
He also said the allegation that a section of the country was allocated more funds than other regions was not put in the right perspective, saying that allocations were done based on sectors.
The Senate image maker said the integrity of the National Assembly was called to question, hence the matter was treated with the seriousness it deserved.
