Presidency Denies Budget Padding Allegations

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Presidency has vehemently denied allegations of padding the 2024 budget by an additional N3 trillion.

This comes after Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central (PDP) accused the executive of implementing a budget different from the one approved by the National Assembly on January 1, 2024.

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In response, the Senate announced it would convene on Tuesday to address the matter, employing its internal mechanisms and control processes.

During a BBC Hausa Service interview, Ningi, under the Northern Senators’ Forum, claimed that the Tinubu-led Federal Government was executing a budget significantly higher than the one passed by the NASS. “For example, it was said that there was a budget of N28tn but what was passed was N25 trillion. So there is N3tn on top. Where are they, where is it going? So, we need to know this. There are a lot of things,” said Ningi.

The lawmaker further revealed plans to meet President Bola Tinubu later this week, stating, “We are coming up with a report and we will show the president himself and ask him if he is aware or not.” Ningi also disclosed that the forum had commissioned consultants to evaluate the 2024 budget to unearth how N3tn was surreptitiously included in the amount passed by lawmakers.

However, in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described Ningi’s claims as “false,” asserting that Tinubu had initially presented a N27.5tn budget to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023. “Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25tn budget that was not presented to the National Assembly,” Onanuga insisted.

Onanuga stated, “We want to state categorically that the only 2024 budget that is being implemented is the N28.7tn budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President.” He argued that the National Assembly only exercised its appropriation powers, increasing the executive’s proposed budget by N1.2tn to N28.7tn, which President Tinubu subsequently signed into law on New Year’s Day.

Addressing Ningi’s assertion that the 2024 budget was anti-North, the Presidency dismissed it as “far-fetched” and “unbecoming” of a leader of his stature. “On the uncharitable claim that the 2024 budget was anti-North, we found such position as canvassed by Senator Ningi as too far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status,” Onanuga stated.

Meanwhile, indications suggest some senators may call for Ningi’s suspension over the claims, which some have described as unfounded. According to sources, the senators are angry with the lawmaker for allegedly making claims that could paint the Senate in a bad light.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola, stated that the Senate would address the issue through internal legislative mechanisms on Tuesday. “As you people can see, many Senators across the six geo-political zones are here with me to react to what a senator said at the weekend on alleged two versions of the 2024 budget, but after realizing that there are laid-down procedures and processes to follow in dealing with such a matter involving an insider, we have decided to shift the venue of reaction to the Senate Chamber on Tuesday, after which, journalists would be briefed adequately,” Adeola said.

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