Budget Padding Allegations: Worry Not, I’ve Gotten Your Back, Gov Bala Tells Senator Ningi 

Embattled Senator Abdul Ningi , who had gotten into spotlight since his controversial radio interview last week, earned a ‘home support’ on Wednesday as Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state  declared that the people of the state would be giving him their ‘full support’.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central in the senate, was suspended for 3 months by his colleagues on Tuesday.

He had also before then resigned from his position as Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

Recall that the senator had during an interview with the BBC Hausa service,  raised allegations of budget padding against those in charge of the affairs of the senate and the presidency.

The presidency had however described the views expressed by the senator as ‘strange’.

‘Apart from what the National Assembly did on the floors of the senate and house of representatives, there was another budget that was done underground which we didn’t know.

The new things we have discovered in the budget were not known to us. We haven’t seen them in the budget that was debated and considered by the National Assembly.

For example, it was said that there was a budget of N28 trillion but what was passed was N25 trillion. So, there is N3 trillion on top. Where are they, where is it going? So, we need to know this. There are a lot of things’ Ningi had submitted during the  controversial interview.

‘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 being implemented by the presidency.

The one approved by us is N25 trillion while the one operating by the Federal Government is ₦28 trillion.

Apparently, we discovered that  N3 trillion was inserted into the budget for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history on Senator Akpabio’s watch’ he had added.

During the plenary session held on Tuesday, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who is the Senate Majority Leader,  however faulted Ningi’s claims that the 2024 budget passed by the Senate was padded  calling it a ‘civilian coup’.

A voice vote was later conducted and majority of the lawmakers voted in support of Ningi’s suspension for three months.

Ningi had since been suspended and he will not engage in legislative duties for the next 3 months.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Governor Bala, who declared support for Ningi on Wednesday, described him as one of the performing senators in the country.

‘During  today’s State Executive Council meeting, I made it clear that I stand firm in our support for Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, of Bauchi Central.

I  emphasized the importance of preserving dissent within our political landscape without resorting to punitive actions.

I am committed to examining Senator Ningi’s situation further. It is common knowledge that Senator Ningi is one of the best performing senators whose heritage and uprightness, ancestry and integrity are worthy of praise’ the Bauchi governor submitted on X-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you