Ningi: I Didn’t Say 2024 Budget Was Padded

Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has  denied allegations attributed to him in the media regarding the padding of the 2024 budget. 

The ranking senator said he never said the budget was padded.

Clarifying his position on the issue during an open session in the Senate, Ningi refuted claims that he accused the National Assembly of padding the budget with N3 trillion. 

Ningi, who resigned his chairmanship of the Northern Senators Forum after his suspension by the Senate insisted that his words were misrepresented.

“I have never said somebody was blinded. Secondly, I have never said the budget was padded. Let me concur with about 80 percent of the translation read out by Senator Yayi. I think they have done a fair job, except on some issues they could not understand,” Senator Ningi said while addressing his colleagues when the issue came up on the floor of the senate.

The senator said, “The beginning of this brouhaha started with this text. Senator Abdu Ningi is purported to be the author of this document. Let me, for the avoidance of doubt, say that I have never issued a statement of this nature to anybody anywhere and anytime.”

During the session, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South, APC) proposed a motion to suspend Senator Ningi for 12 months due to the lack of substantiated proof regarding the alleged padding, and suggested that Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South, NNPP) be warned. 

However, Senator Chris Ekpeyong (Akwa-Ibom North-West, PDP) opposed the motion and proposed an amendment to reduce the suspension to six months. This amendment was seconded. Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South, PDP) later proposed that Ningi be suspended for three months.