24 Budget: Senator Ningi Dares FG, Reveals Next Action
Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, has retracted his claims against the Tinubu administration, claiming that he was’misquoted’.
Ningi made news after accusing the Tinubu administration of inflating the 2024 National Budget by almost N3 trillion. However, Ningi told Senate correspondents on Monday that he did not imply that President Bola Tinubu was handling two budgets or was biased against the North.
He noted that his remarks were made in his role as a Senator and not as the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum.
He reiterated his stance that while N25 trillion was appropriately allocated in the budget based on three parameters (money, project, and location), he could not ascertain the project locations for the remaining N3 trillion. He also expressed his willingness to face consequences, even if it leads to his suspension from the Red Chamber.
Senator to Face Possible Criminal Charges
Meanwhile, a lawmaker from Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim, has asked the Federal Government to charge Senator Ningi to court for criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly and the country by extension.
The Presidency had on Sunday described as false, a claim by Senator Ningi that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget.
According to a statement by a Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the senator’s claim that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 Budget is false, adding that N28.7 trillion was passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The Presidency also described as “far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status”, the claim by Senator Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, that the 2024 Budget was anti-north.
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