Ningi resigns as Chair of Northern Senators’ Forum as colleagues dissociate from budget padding allegations

*Embattled Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, tenders his resignation as the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, following his recent allegations of N3.7 trillion purported padding of the 2024 Budget by the National Assembly

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Embattled Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, has tendered his resignation as the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum.

ConsumerConnect reports Sen. Ningi resigned after being suspended by the Upper House for three months over budget padding claims.

Although the resignation letter to the Northern Senators’ Forum was dated March 11, 2024, a copy was made public shortly after his suspension.

Sen. Ningi, in a recent interview, had alleged 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 Ahmed Tinubu was skewed against the Northern region of the country.

However, in their reactions to his claims, 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 letter to the Forum stated in part: “I will like to resign my position as the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

“This is, of course, necessitated by unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North and the nation at large.”

Ningi also said in the letter to his Northern colleagues in the Senate: “I will like to especially thank members of the Forum for the opportunity given to me for the last eight months to spearhead this very important forum.

“I believe this forum is very important and fundamental to the progress and development of Northern Nigeria.”