N3.7trn Budget Padding: At last, Ningi resumes

Former Chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity and Population Commission, Sen. Abdul Ningi, formally resumed at the Senate on Tuesday, one week after his suspension was called off.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi-Central Senatorial District, was among the early callers at the National Assembly on Tuesday around 10.42 am, entering the premises ahead of the official sitting time of 11 am.

He arrived about the same time with a few of his colleagues, including a former Governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto-South) and Sen. Suleiman Abdulrahman-Kawu (Kano-South).

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmaker seemed elated as he exchanged banters with colleagues.

Ningi had returned to work after spending 75 days out of the three months (90 days) the Senate suspended on March 12, 2024 to serve.

Recall that the Senate had on Tuesday last week, recalled Ningi from suspension after the Minority Caucus of the Red Chamber apologised on his behalf.

The Senate had punished Ningi after he made an allegation that N3.7 trillion out of the N28.7tn budget passed for 2024 could not be traced to any projects.

The Senate later confronted Ningi with the details of the budget, which indicated that he did not get his facts right.

The Senate proceeded to suspend him for three months, but gave a condition that he could be recalled any time so long as he sent a written apology to the Senate.

In a motion preceding his recall, the minority leadership of the Senate said it took the responsibility by apologising on his behalf.

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The motion recalling Ningi, as moved by the minority leader, Sen. Abba Moro, reads, “The Senat notes that on Tuesday 12th March, 2024, this very revered loth Senate in plenary suspended the former Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central Senatorial District for three months following a media interview he granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service on March 9, 2024 in which he alleged that about 3.7trillion Naira representing over 10% of the 2024 budget was illegally inserted into the 2024 National Budget.

“Notes further that Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi was asked to address his allegation of budget padding against the National Assembly, following a motion of urgent national importance moved by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations. And failing to address the allegation, the Senate resolved to suspend Senator Abdul Ahmed Ning for three months for violating legislative rules, misconduct and unethical behaviour for the interview he granted on BBC Media on the 2024 Appropriation Act, legislation which he was part of.

“Aware that the said Senator Abdul Ahmed Ninigi, being under suspension, has spent over two months outside the precincts of the National Assembly Complex and needs to return to continue with his legislative activities as the Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.

“Flowing from the above, the Senate Minority Leadership takes full responsibility for the actions of our colleague Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and apologises on his behalf.

“Accordingly, the Senate resolved to: Reconsider the additional resolution of the Senate (i of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday 13th March, 2024 to recall Senator Abdul Ahmad Ning to the Senate as Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.”

On Tuesday, Ningi declined to comment on his suspension when journalists approached him.

He, however, promised to speak on Wednesday, June 5.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE