Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has made a U-turn regarding some claims he made regarding the 2024 Appropriation Act.
The Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum told Senate correspondents on Monday that he is prepared to carry his cross, even if it means being suspended from the Red Chamber.
Ningi stated that he never said President Bola Tinubu was implementing two budgets or was biassed against the North.
He clarified that he stands by his statement as a Senator, not the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, and that it has been established beyond doubt that N25 trillion was correctly allocated in the budget, citing three parameters (money, project, and location), but that he cannot determine the project location for the remaining N3 trillion.
Charged with criminal misinformation?
Meanwhile, Jimoh Ibrahim, a member from Ondo South Senatorial District, has petitioned the Federal Government to prosecute Senator Ningi for criminal falsehood and breach of peace in the National Assembly and, by extension, throughout the country.
The Presidency denied on Sunday Senator Ningi’s claim that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the senator’s allegation that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 Budget is untrue, and President Bola Tinubu signed N28.7 trillion into law.
The Presidency also criticised Senator Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, for claiming that the 2024 Budget was anti-north.
Onanuga stated that the President is heading an administration that is fair and equitable to all parts and segments of Nigeria. He went on to say that the 2024 Appropriation Act was balanced in terms of money, capital distribution, and priority projects.