Tinubu Meets with Akpabio, Deputy Senate President and Other Lawmakers in a Closed-Door Meeting
Amidst the serene atmosphere of the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu convened a closed-door meeting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and other lawmakers, including the suspended Senator Abdul Ningi. The meeting followed the Senate’s suspension of Ningi for three months, barring him from participating in Senate activities, with a possibility of recall upon apology. The suspension stemmed from allegations raised by Ningi regarding a purported N3 trillion budget padding in the 2024 Appropriation Act, which he claimed inflated the budget to N28.7 trillion, above the N25 trillion approved by the National Assembly.
The Senate session was marred by tension and chaos as Senator Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, accused Ningi of breaching his privileges by alleging budget padding. The session took a dramatic turn when Ningi made further claims, suggesting a disparity between the budget approved by the National Assembly and the one implemented by the Presidency. He alleged that the Senate was operating two different budgets, with an additional N3 trillion budgeted without specific allocations. This revelation threw the Senate into disarray, with senators expressing shock and confusion.
In a bid to address the escalating situation, the Senate deliberated on the allegations raised by Ningi. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a twelve-month suspension for Ningi, which was later amended to three months by Senator Musa Garba Maidoki, amidst heated exchanges. The Senate’s decision to suspend Ningi for three months was met with mixed reactions, with some senators advocating for a more lenient suspension period.
The controversy surrounding the budget allegations further deepened when Senator Ningi claimed that the Senate was unaware of the actual earnings and expenditures of its members, including the Senate President. He alleged that senior senators received N500 million each, while he only received N75 million, sparking uproar and chaos in the Senate chamber.
The suspension of Senator Ningi evoked memories of a similar incident in 2017 when former Majority Leader Senator Ali Ndume was suspended for six months for not conducting due diligence before filing a petition against Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye. Ndume’s suspension was based on allegations of bringing disrepute to the Senate and his colleagues.
The Senate’s handling of the budget allegations and subsequent suspension of Senator Ningi has raised questions about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s legislative process. The controversy has also highlighted the challenges faced by lawmakers in ensuring proper oversight of the country’s finances.
As the Senate meeting concludes, the fallout from the budget allegations and suspension of Senator Ningi is likely to have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s political landscape. The need for accountability and transparency in governance has once again been brought to the forefront, as Nigerians await further developments in this unfolding saga.
Vanguard News
