EKO HOT BLOG reports that Senators engaged in a heated exchange on Tuesday afternoon following a statement made by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in Bauchi State.
Senator Ningi alleged that the 2024 Budget had been padded by N3 trillion. In an interview with BBC Hausa Service over the weekend, Senator Ningi further claimed that there were two versions of the 2024 budget being implemented.
However, Senator Ningi retracted his statements on Monday during a conversation with reporters in Abuja, asserting that he was misquoted because he spoke in the Hausa language.
Nevertheless, during the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, brought up the matter through a motion. He called for an investigation into Senator Ningi’s claims.
Senator Olamilekan’s motion was seconded by Senator Joel Onawakpo, after which Senators engaged in a heated debate to speak on the matter.
However, Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, raised a point of order, asking the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to ensure a fair hearing by allowing the man at the centre of the controversy to state his side of the story.
Responding, Akpabio, who was initially angered about Senator Ningi’s interjection of Senator Aliero’s motion, said: “For me, I think this is a very straightforward matter. We have a situation to be the stabiliser of the National Assembly.”
Ningi was eventually recognised to speak and he is currently stating his side of the story until the senate went into a rowdy session.
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