The Presidency refutes accusations of inflating the 2024 budget by an extra N3 trillion.
This development arose following allegations made by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central (PDP), who asserted that the executive branch is operating with a budget different from the one approved on January 1, 2024.
In response, the Senate announced its intention to convene on Tuesday to address the issue, utilizing its internal mechanisms and oversight procedures.
Ningi, representing the Northern Senators’ Forum, argued in an interview with BBC Hausa Service that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, is executing a budget significantly larger than the one passed by the National Assembly.
The lawmaker stated that a budget of N25 trillion was debated and approved, not the N28.7 trillion that is currently being implemented.
“Apart from what the National Assembly did on the floor, there was another budget that was done underground which we didn’t know.
“The new things we have discovered in the budget were not known to us. We haven’t seen them in the budget that was debated and considered on the floor of the National Assembly.
“For example, it was said that there was a budget of N28tn but what was passed was N25 trillion. So there is N3tn on top. Where are they, where is it going? So, we need to know this. There are a lot of things,” said Ningi.
The lawmaker also revealed plans to meet President Bola Tinubu later this week saying, “We are coming up with a report and we will show the president himself and ask him if he is aware or not.”
He disclosed that the forum had tasked consultants with assessing the 2024 budget to uncover how an additional N3 trillion was stealthily incorporated into the amount approved by legislators.
However, in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency refuted Ningi’s assertions as “false,” maintaining that Tinubu initially submitted a N27.5 trillion budget to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.
The statement clarified that this budget comprised N9.92 trillion for recurrent expenditure, N8.25 trillion for debt service, and N8.7 trillion for capital expenditure, contradicting Ningi’s allegations.
The Presidency stressed the improbability of the Senate debating and passing a N25 trillion budget that was never proposed.
“Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25tn budget that was not presented to the National Assembly.
“We don’t expect a ranking Senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims.
“It is also important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on January 1, 2024, as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7tn,” Onanuga insisted.
It argued that the National Assembly only exercised its appropriation powers, and increased the executive’s proposed budget by N1.2tn to N28.7tn, which President Tinubu subsequently signed into law on New Year’s Day.
Onanuga stated, “We want to state categorically that the only 2024 budget that is being implemented is the N28.7tn budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President.
“Included in the budget are statutory transfers to the Judiciary, National Assembly, Tetfund and others. He did not present a budget of N25tn.”
Addressing Senator Ningi’s assertion that the 2024 budget was anti-North, the Presidency dismissed it as “far-fetched” and “unbecoming” of a leader of his stature.”
It further said, “On the uncharitable claim that the 2024 budget was anti-North, we found such position as canvassed by Senator Ningi as too far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status.
“President Tinubu is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria. In terms of funding, distribution of capital and priority projects, the 2024 Appropriation Act was not skewed against any section of the country.
“The North as an integral part of the country is well covered in all areas, from security to agriculture, healthcare to education, and other important infrastructure such as roads, rail, dams, power and irrigation projects to support all year-round agriculture.”
It also expressed concern that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could “employ such primordial antics to fuel divisive rhetoric at a time well-meaning Nigerians are joining hands with President Tinubu to raise the spirit of national cohesion, unity and inclusive politics.”
Onanuga thanked the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, for “setting the record straight,” and commended Senators Steve Karimi (Kogi), Titus Zam (Benue) and Kaka Sheu (Borno) for “coming out against the misrepresentation of facts by Senator Ningi.”
Meanwhile, there are signs that certain senators may propose the suspension of the Bauchi senator over his assertions, which some of them have deemed baseless.
Various sources suggest that the senators are displeased with the lawmaker for allegedly making allegations that could tarnish the image of the Senate.
In the meantime, the Senate, represented by its spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), refuted the claim on Saturday during a conversation with our correspondent, asserting that there was no padding whatsoever in the budget.