In a high-stakes development, President Bola Tinubu and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, have convened an urgent meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The gathering comes hot on the heels of the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central (PDP), who leveled serious allegations against the executive branch regarding budget discrepancies.
Senator Ningi, who chairs the Northern Senators’ Forum and the Senate Committee on Population, raised alarm bells in a BBC Hausa Service interview. He accused the Federal Government, led by President Tinubu, of implementing a budget significantly higher than the one approved on January 1, 2024. According to Ningi, the 2024 budget was padded with a staggering N3 trillion, causing what he termed “huge damage” to the north and the entire country. His claim was that the actual budget passed by the National Assembly was N25 trillion, not the N28.7 trillion currently being executed.
In response, the Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, vehemently refuted Ningi’s assertions. Onanuga clarified that President Tinubu had never presented a budget of N25 trillion on November 29, 2023. Instead, the joint session of the National Assembly received a budget proposal totaling N27.5 trillion. This breakdown included N9.92 trillion for recurrent expenditure, N8.25 trillion for debt service, and N8.7 trillion for capital expenditure. Onanuga dismissed Ningi’s view as a “strange perspective,” emphasizing that the Senate could not have debated and passed a budget that was never presented.
Despite the Presidential clarification, Senator Ningi stood his ground. He continued to assert that N3.7 trillion remained unaccounted for in the 2024 budget. His persistence led to his suspension by the Senate for a period of three months. While calls for a thorough investigation into the allegations echoed through the chambers, some northern senators distanced themselves from Ningi’s claims. They emphasized that the Bauchi State senator did not speak on their behalf.
Against this backdrop, the meeting between President Tinubu and Senate President Akpabio assumes critical significance. The two political heavyweights are grappling with the fallout from Ningi’s suspension and the ensuing budget controversy. As the nation watches, they seek to find common ground and address the allegations head-on.
The outcome of this high-level engagement could shape the political landscape in Nigeria. Will it lead to further investigations, reforms, or a resolution that restores confidence in the budgetary process? Only time will tell. For now, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Aso Rock, where Tinubu and Akpabio engage in intense deliberations.
Details will emerge as the meeting unfolds. Stay tuned for updates.
