Why Senate suspended lawmaker who claimed 2024 budget was inflated by N3 trillion

The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over accusation of padding in the 2024 budget.

Ningi had alleged that the 2024 budget was inflated by N3 trillion. He made this known during an interview with BBC Hausa and by Monday, March 11, he denied the allegation as he claimed to have been misquoted.

On Tuesday, March 12, during plenary, the Senate was thrown into a state of chaos after Ningi’s denial.

A member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim, moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months but was later reduced to three months with the intervention of other lawmakers like Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong who moved for the amendment of the motion.

Suspended Senator Ningi represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the national assembly.

Recall that the Senate approved a budget of N28.7 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year. This was after President Bola Tinubu’s initial proposal of N27.5 trillion.

However, the lawmakers increased the budget by N1.2 trillion due to inflation and the exchange rate for the dollar.

Senator Adeola representing Ogun West fumed and said that his involvement in the budget process was ignored.

The senator said;

“Ningi has maintained that N3 trillion in the budget was not linked to anything.

“My privilege has been breached because I was one of those who participated in the preparation of the budget. With what has transpired in the last three days, my privilege has been breached.”