A serving senator, Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District (PDP), has accused the Senate of padding the 2024 budget with about N3 trillion.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday, March 9, Nini alleged that the appropriation bill passed by the lawmakers was different from what is being implemented, alleging that about N3 trillion had been padded in the budget.
Ningi, who’s the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, alleged that the Federal Government was operating an N28 trillion budget, contrary to the N25 trillion passed by the National Assembly.
According to the BBC, he said: “Apart from what the National Assembly did on the floor, there was another budget that was done underground which we didn’t know.
Meanwhile, the Senate has denied the allegation of padding in the N28.77 trillion 2024 budget passed by both the joint chambers of the National Assembly.
The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Media & Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu said the upper chamber is not aware of the budget padding allegation.
According to him, “There is no budget padding as far as the Senate and the National Assembly are concerned.
The national budget is a public document, which expressly states the expected revenue and the expenditure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Senate is not aware of any varied execution of the 2024 appropriation mandate as approved
The budget presentation & approval processes were made in the public glare, while the presidential assent was also in a public ceremony
