Senators, on Tuesday afternoon, exchanged words over a claim by a member of the Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District of Bauchi State, that the 2024 Budget was allegedly padded by N3trillion and that there were two versions of the budget in circulation.
Ningi, who was reported to have made the claim during a BBC Hausa Service interview at the weekend, however, denied the reports on Monday, saying he was quoted out of context because he spoke in Hausa language.
However, at the resumed plenary of the Senate on Tuesday, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, raised the issue through a motion, calling for the investigation of the claim by Ningi.
Senator Olamilekan’s motion was seconded by Senator Joel Onawakpo, afterwhich Senators engaged in a heated debate to speak on the matter.
However, Senator Adamu Aliero representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District raised a point of order, asking the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to ensure fair hearing by allowing the man at the centre of the controversy to state his side of the story.
Responding, Akpabio, who was initially angred about Senator Ningi’s interjection of Senator Aliero’s motion, said: “For me I think this is a very straightforward matter. We have a situation to be the stabiliser of the National Assembly.”
Ningi was eventually recognised to speak and he told his colleagues that he had documents to prove his claims even as he denied ever saying there was a N3trillion budget padding and two 2024 budgets in circulation.
Dissatisfied Akpabio, however, told Senator Ningi: “The integrity of this National Assembly has been damaged and we gave you the opportunity to repair it with your speech but you insisted by saying that you have documents to prove your point.”
Thereafter, Senators took turns to say their mind on the development.
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