Senate Suspends Abdul Ningi for Three Months Over N3.7 Trillion Budget Padding Allegation

The Senate has placed former Senate Deputy Leader and Northern Senators Forum (NSF) Chairman, Senator Abdul Ningi of the PDP, Bauchi Central, on leave for three months and asked him to abstain from all 10th Senate proceedings

The Senate also resolved that if Senator Ningi writes to apologise during the period, he shall be recalled to resume his legislative activities.

The resolution of the Senate on Tuesday was sequel to a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, APC, Ogun West on the allegations raised by Ningi of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the N28.7trillion 2024 Appropriation Act and that the budget passed by the National Assembly for 2024 fiscal year is N25 trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7 trillion.

Earlier, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, APC, Ondo South in an additional prayer had asked the Senate to suspend Ningi for an intitial period of twelve months and seconded by Senator Edeh Dafinone, APC, Delta Central.

An additional prayer was moved by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, APC, Cross River South that the suspension be reduced from twelve months to six months and his motion was seconded by Senator Barinada Mpigi, PDP, South East.

The additional prayer for suspension of a period of three months was raised by Senator Musa Garba Maidoki, PDP, Kebbi South and seconded by Senator Sani Musa, APC, Niger East.

Soon after the additional prayer was put to vote by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio at 3.19 pm, Senator Ningi immediately packed the heavy documents he came with left the hallowed Chamber.

Recall that the Senate had on Wednesday, 30th March, 2017 suspended former Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, for six months for not “conducting due diligence” before filing a petition against Senate President Bukola Saraki and then lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye who was representing Kogi West then.

Ndume was indicted “for bringing Senator Dino Melaye, his colleague, and the institution of the Senate to unbearable disrepute.”

Earlier, the Senate chamber was thrown into a rowdy session and House of commotion, as it began discussions on allegations raised by Ningi, had raised the alarm of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the N28.7 trillion 2024 Appropriation Act.and that the budget passed by the National Assembly for 2024 fiscal year is N25 trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7 trillion.

Trouble started on Tuesday when the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, APC, Ogun West raised a point of Order, saying that he was one of those who prepared the 2024 Budget and that with what has transpired in the last three days, his Privileges have been tampered with.

Senator Adeola who came under Order 9,10,41 and 51of the Senate Standing Orders 2022 as Amended, read out the notarised transcription of the interview the former Senate Deputy leader and Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, NSF, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central granted the BBC( Hausa Service) on Saturday last week.

According to Adeola, Ningi raised the alarm of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the N28. 7 trillion 2024 Appropriation Act, and that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25 trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7 trillion.

The Senate was thrown into confusion when Abdul Ningi was asked to defend himself following a Constitutional point of order raised by Senator Adamu Aliero, PDP, Kebbi Central that Ningi be given a fair hearing.

In his remarks, Ningi opened up cans of worm where he raised it that the Senate does not know how much the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill was earning and the number of vehicles he has bought,

The house was thrown into a rowdy session when Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, PDP, Cross River North raised an alarm that senior Senators got N500 million each while he got N75 million.

Senator Ningi in the interview had said: “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets. One budget approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one implemented by the Presidency.

“The one approved by us is ₦25 trillion while the one operated by the Federal Government is ₦28 trillion.

“Apparently we discovered ₦3 trillion was inserted into the budgets without locations. This is the highest budget padding that has happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio’s watch.”

Senator Ningi who raised the alarm of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the Presidency, said, “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. We are coming up with a report and we will show the president himself and ask him if he is aware or not.

“We resolved as people Representatives to see President Tinubu on this issue, with facts and figures, to ask him if he is aware of this embarrassment or not, then from there we will take action.

“Let Nigerians be patient with us. This is a national issue, it affects all Nigerians irrespective of party, tribe or religion “