Backlash: Abdul Ningi leaves Nigerian Senate for 3 months over 2024 Budget padding claims

*The Senate suspends embattled, ‘ranking’ Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi over allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace on N3.7trillion purported padding of the 2024 Budget in the National Assembly

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, FCT, in particular and the country by extension, the Senate Tuesday, March 12, 2024, suspended embattled, ranking Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi over N3.7trillion purported padding of the 2024 Budget.

ConsumerConnect reports the country’s Upper Legislative Chamber, under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, suspended Sen.

Ningi of the Peoples Democratic Party from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, in Bauchi State, Northern Nigeria, for three months after a long stormy session Tuesday.

Prior to the embattled Senator’s suspension, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, had moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over his carefree allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly.

After Ibrahim’s first motion, other Federal lawmakers, including  Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, later moved for the amendment of the motion.

Ekpenyong from Cross River South Senatorial District; and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari from Oyo North also prayed for the reduction of the suspension to six and three months respectively.

Senate President Akpabio, who described Ningi’s offences as “grievous”, conducted a voice vote during which most of the lawmakers voted in support of Ningi’s suspension for three months.

It is recalled that Ningi, in a recent interview, had claimed that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget and that the N28.7 trillion Budget passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu was skewed against the North.

In reaction to his allegations, several of his colleagues in the Senate, the Presidency have described Ningi’s claims as “far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status”.

The Presidency in a statement by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, rather urged the Senator to learn to pay attention to details of matters before misinforming the public.

Yet, in a volte face of some sort, it was gathered that Ningi later denied that Nigeria is operating two budgets, stating he was misquoted.

However, he insisted that only N25 trillion of the budget is tied to projects, whereas N3.7trillion had no project tied to it.

Why Ningi and co-travellers are causing a stir in Senate –Bamidele, Senate Leader

While commenting on the rationale behind Ningi’s latest misrepresentation of facts and misinformation about the N28.7 trillion 2024 Budget, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader from Ekiti State, declared:

“It was never about Mr. President (Bola Tinubu), who signed this budget; it’s always about Akpabio. We have a momentum.

“This is a defining moment for us to say, ‘If we are going to have a stable Senate, let us have one.

“It is not about North and South, it is about our rules, it’s about the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It’s about our people who are hungry and deprived.”

He stated: “Mr. President (Akpabio) sitting as chair, a few people who felt they will not give you more than one year to be in this chair, wants to do everything possible before the 13th of June to remove you.”

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