Bauchi Gorvernor Says Senator Persecuted For Speaking The Truth About Unspecified #3.7trn In 2024 Budget

                  Senator Abdul Ningi

  The Senator representing Bauchi Central and former Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Abdul Ningi, has stated that #3.7trn in the 2024 Budget has not been accounted for. Ningi in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service) on saturday states that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is #25trn while the one being implemented by the President is #28trn.

   Ningi in the interview was quoted saying "for the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets, the one approved by us is #25trn while the one operated by the Federal Government is #28trn. Apparently we discovered #3.7trn was inserted into the budget for projects without locations. This is the highest padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio's watch."

  The Senate, through it's spokeperson, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) refuted the claim on saturday night in an interview with the punch stating that there was no padding whatsoever in the budget. Ningi however maintains that he was misunderstood, that he never said that the President was running two budgets but that there was a #3.7trn yet to be accounted for. The uproar has since resulted in the suspension of Ningi from the Senate for three months, and also in a letter dated March 11, Ningi resigned from his position as the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum.

  Bauchi State Gorvernor, Bala Mohammed, who spoke during the State Executive Council Meeting at the Government House Bauchi, has shown his support for the embattled Senator and also expressed sadness over the recent developments. According to him, Senator Ningi's claim on the budget was genuine, stressing that the lawmaker was suspended for standing up for what was right.

    "Yesterday I was very sad the Senate suspended one of our best from Bauchi for saying the truth, for standing up to be the beacon of the truth". Equally I don't know what we will do but we will discuss privately to see what we can do to support him because I support whatever he is doing and that is out best position especially if what he is saying is the truth".