Regarding the budget padding allegations, the Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, revealed that he had cautioned the suspended Senator from Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, about the accusation of budget padding amounting to N3.7 trillion.
Ndume stated that he warned Ningi after the latter informed him about the alleged budget padding, but Ningi disregarded his advice.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume disclosed that when Ningi initially approached him with the case, he requested evidence, which Ningi failed to provide.
Ndume criticized Ningi for politicizing the 2024 budget and turning it into an ethnic issue, which he deemed inappropriate.
He stated: “I sat next to the Senate Leader (Opeyemi Bamidele), he was very angry about what Ningi did, and honestly, so was I. What he (Ningi) did was wrong because I was involved.
“It all began when they claimed that capital projects were biased towards the South. The total budget presented by the President was not up to N9 trillion; it was N8.9 trillion. They alleged skewed capital projects amounting to N15 trillion.
“This N15 trillion figure is absurd. Even with the amendments we made, the capital component of this budget does not amount to that.
“I informed him of his error. I had previously cautioned him when he raised the issue with me, advising him to engage a consultant to analyze the budget. However, he chose not to heed my advice.”
Ndume’s remarks come amidst heightened scrutiny of the 2024 budget. While Ningi’s suspension suggests a clampdown on dissent, Ndume’s defense underscores the importance of evidence-based discourse on budgetary matters. It remains to be seen whether Ndume’s arguments will quell concerns about the transparency of the budget process.
