Fresh Twist To Budget Padding Controversy As BudgIT Confirms Ningi’s N3.7trn Allegation

BudgIT, a civic organization dedicated to scrutinizing Nigerian public finances, has endorsed suspended Senator Abdul Ningi’s assertion regarding a purported N3.7 trillion gap in the 2024 budget presented to the National Assembly.

During an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, BudgIT’s Director and co-founder, Seun Onigbinde, affirmed Ningi’s claims, emphasizing the absence of detailed allocations for the said amount in the 2024 budget.

Senator Ningi, representing Bauchi Central senatorial district, was suspended by the Senate on Tuesday amidst allegations of presenting two versions of the 2024 budget to the National Assembly. He contends that the budget was padded by N3 trillion and criticizes the perceived neglect of the North under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, initiated a motion on breach of privilege against Ningi, leading to his suspension. However, the Senate amended the initial proposal of a 12-month suspension to three months.

BudgIT’s Onigbinde highlighted transparency issues within the budget, particularly concerning statutory allocations lacking comprehensive breakdowns. He pointed out the allocations for entities such as the National Assembly, National Judicial Council (NJC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as lacking detailed expenditure information.

Onigbinde stressed the necessity for transparency and accountability, urging for detailed breakdowns of allocations to be made public. He emphasized that while Senator Ningi’s concerns regarding the lack of transparency are valid, the notion of running parallel budgets is inaccurate.

The endorsement by BudgIT adds weight to Ningi’s claims and underscores the pressing need for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s budgetary processes.