The Northern Senators Forum has decided to convene with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the alleged addition of N3 trillion to the 2024 budget. Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), the forum’s chairman, revealed this in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service,Daily Trust reports.
Ningi claimed that the budget passed by the Senate for 2024 was N25 trillion, not the N28 trillion being implemented by Tinubu. The forum intends to investigate this purported extra N3 trillion and other undisclosed elements in the budget.
He further stated that there was a clandestine budget that lawmakers were unaware of. Over the past three months, the forum has engaged consultants to meticulously scrutinize the budget line by line.
ALSO READ: School abductions violate pupils’ right to education, NEF laments
According to Ningi, the budget reveals substantial damage inflicted upon the North and the nation at large. He expressed intentions to present their findings to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Tinubu.
Additionally, the forum plans to address concerns regarding the Mambilla Power Project, Ajaokuta Steel Company, River Niger dredging, and the Niger Republic’s dam construction.
Ningi lamented that Tinubu’s administration has not met the North’s expectations, despite their support during his ascension to power.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, refuted Ningi’s allegations, asserting that the budget process was transparent and devoid of any irregularities. He assured the public of strict legislative oversight to ensure the proper execution of the 2024 appropriation law.
