Akpabio Gets 14 Days Ultimatum to Reverse Ningi’s Suspension

Constituents of the Bauchi Central Senatorial district in the state have given Senate president Godswill Akpabio a 2-week ultimatum to reverse the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi. Ningi, a former majority leader in the upper chambers, was suspended for three months for expressing sincere concern about irregularities in the 2024 national budget. The constituents, under the umbrella of the Youth Coalition of Bauchi Central Senatorial district, said the Senate should instead investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them in the best interest of the country. The coalition at a press conference addressed by its Chairman, Nazeef Abdullahi Rio in Bauchi, said, “We demand that the Senate should immediately reverse its decision of suspending our Senator. Recall him back to his seat so that he will continue representing our dear Constituency and the Country at large. “To our total dismay, instead of the Senate to commend Senator Ningi for his patriotic discovery investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them for the best interest of the Country, it ended up unjustifiably suspending him thereby denying his rights as Senator and a Nigerian. “This is the highest level of injustice meted on any Senator and any Senatorial district in the history of our dear country. “As people of Bauchi Central, we declare our total support and solidarity to Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi. We equally strongly commend him for standing firm to represent our views and fight for our rights and that of the entire Nigerians. “We also demand that the Senate should fully investigate all the alleged irregularities in the 2024 budget so that nobody will take Nigerians for granted and so that the image of the Senate will not be painted black in the eyes of Nigerians. “If the Senate fails to meet our demands within two weeks, as constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, we will be left with no option than to take legal action so that our constitutional rights would be upheld.”j

After Ningi’s Resignation, New Northern Senators Forum Chairman Emerge

The Northern Senators Forum has appointed Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua as chairman. Yar’Adua’s emergence is sequel to the the resignation of suspended Senator Abdul Ningi. Senator Yar’Adua, represents Katsina central senatorial district and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Also, Senator Tahir Monguno emerged as the spokesperson of the Northern Senators Forum taking over from Senator Ismaila Kawu. Monguno, a seasoned lawmaker representing Borno North Senatorial district. Monguno is tasked with representing the forum’s positions and articulating its stance on key policy matters to the public and stakeholders In his acceptance speech, the new chairman said he is aware of the challenges facing the Northern region which Include: Security, agriculture,education, healthcare, drug abuse and human trafficking. Others are so numerous to mention. “In advancing these noble objectives, I am committed to streamlined activities within the Northem Senators Forum. We shall operate with transparency, accountability, and integrity, upholding the trust placed on us by the electorate. “Our legislative discourse will continue to be characterized by civility, dignity, and adherence to the rule of law as we fulfill our lawmaking, policy-making,and oversight functions”, he added. The forum he also said will in consultation with other distinguished colleagues to preserve the unity and progress of the nation. The Northern Senators Forum, comprising lawmakers representing various constituencies across northern Nigeria, plays a crucial role in shaping legislative priorities and policies affecting the region. The forum serves as a platform for fostering unity, cooperation, and collective decision-making among senators from the northern states.

Budget padding: I can’t be Controlled or Silenced – Ningi

After being suspended for three months by the Senate over his allegation that the sum of N3.7 trillion was not tied to any project in the 2024 budget, Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi, has insisted that no one can control or silence him from revealing the ‘can of worms’ in the Senate.  The suspended senator also alleged that the Senate is trying to silence or get him arrested for exposing the alleged padding of the 2024 appropriation budget.  Speaking on Arise Tv on Wednesday, Ningi said no one could control the can of worms he had opened. He said: “That is why I said I know this parliament very well, I have come a long way. And that is why we are speaking. Let’s speak. “Have they ever asked me since the beginning of this so-called crisis, where are your findings? Where are the documents? I’m not using my head to come up with figures. “Nobody has talked to me about evidence. Nobody has suggested even listening to me. All they are trying to do is to ensure that ‘how do we make sure that Ningi is silenced or arrested so that he doesn’t do anything?’ “I have opened this can of worms. Neither they nor I will be able to control it.”

Senate and House of Representatives to Return to Main Chambers Following Renovation Completion

After a year and a half of conducting plenary sessions in temporary chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives are preparing to relocate to their main Hallowed Chambers next month as renovation work nears completion. Recent progress indicates that the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers are nearing the final stages of completion. Visible Construction Company Nigeria Limited, the firm responsible for the renovation, has already installed state-of-the-art chairs for federal lawmakers and extended sitting terraces. Tajudeen Olanipekun, the Project Engineer at Visible Construction, assured journalists covering the Senate last week that the remaining work is being carried out swiftly with expertise and precision. The goal is to transform the entire ambiance of the Hallowed Chambers and its surroundings, aiming for project delivery next month. This development aligns with a directive from the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal, emphasizing the urgency of the Senate and the House of Representatives returning to their main chambers. During an interactive session with journalists covering the Senate, Akpabio stressed the need for expeditious completion of the renovation works. He noted that the temporary chambers, used since 2022, are not suitable for hosting visitors from outside the country. Journalists covering the Senate conducted on-site assessments of the renovation progress, visiting both Chambers under renovation last Friday. They observed fully transformed, upgraded, and reconfigured hallowed chambers that meet global standards. The renovation project, awarded to Visible Construction Limited by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in March 2021 at a cost of N30 billion, includes critical segments of the National Assembly complex. These segments involve office buildings housing accommodation for Senators and Honourable Members, roof watertightness improvements, enhancements to the cooling system, and the replacement of inoperable lifts throughout the complex.

Bauchi Governor Reacts To Ningi’s Suspension

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has declared that the state government is behind Senator Abdul Ningi, the lawmaker who was handed a three-month suspension after his comment on N3.7 trillion not being traceable in the 2024 budget. Ningi, representing Bauchi Central senatorial district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, was suspended by the Senate, on Tuesday. The Senator had subsequently resigned as Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF). On the floor of the Senate, Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West), had said the Red Chamber had inaugurated a template for the speedy consideration and passage of the 2024 Money Bill as he initiated the motion on breach of privilege by the Bauchi senator. Senator Adeola had come under orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the BBC Hausa. Following Adeola’s motion on breach of privilege, a member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim, first moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly. But, some of the senators moved for the amendment of the suspension for three months for the embattled federal lawmaker, which the senate ratified. Speaking during the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Bauchi, on Wednesday, Mohammed said, “yesterday I was very sad the Senate suspended one of our best from Bauchi for saying the truth, for standing up to be the beacon of the truth.” Mohammed, who is also the chairman PDP Governors’ Forum, said, “Equally I don’t know what we will do but we will discuss privately to see what we can do to support him because I support whatever he is doing and that is our best position especially if what he saying is the truth”.

BudgIT Confirms Senator Ningi’s Concerns Over N3.7 Trillion Budget Padding

Sen Abdul Ningi’s observation that there was lack of a detailed breakdown for approximately N3.7 trillion of the N28.78 trillion 2024 budget has been confirmed as valid, and the senate may have erred by suspending the senator. BudgIT co-founder, Mr. Seun Onigbinde affirmed the validity of the claim by the senator representing Bauchi Central via a TV interview monitored by Nigerian Anchor news in Abuja. During an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Onigbinde emphasized that Senator Ningi’s assertions align with BudgIT’s findings, shedding light on discrepancies within the budgetary allocations. Senator Ningi’s initial remarks, made in an interview with BBC Hausa over the weekend, sparked controversy as he alleged a disparity between the budget passed by the National Assembly and the one implemented by the Presidency. He claimed that while the National Assembly approved a budget of N25 trillion, the Presidency was executing a budget totaling N28.7 trillion. In subsequent statements to the press in Abuja on Monday, Senator Ningi reiterated his stance, expressing readiness to face any consequences for his disclosures. He stood firm on his assertion that N3.7 trillion lacked proper documentation regarding project allocation within the 2024 budget. Addressing the issue, Senator Ningi stated, “We have established beyond reasonable doubt that N25 trillion so far has nexus in the budget. That means that there is money, there is a project, and there is a location. But we are yet to ascertain N3 trillion of that budget.” Furthermore, Onigbinde highlighted that certain “statutory elements” within the budget lacked comprehensive analysis. Specifically, allocations for bodies such as the National Assembly, National Judicial Council (NJC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) were noted to lack detailed breakdowns. “On that point, Senator Ningi is right,” Onigbinde affirmed. “There are components of the budget where there is no breakdown.” He emphasized the importance of transparency, advocating for detailed public disclosure of expenditures by these entities. BudgIT’s analysis revealed transparency issues amounting to approximately N3.5 trillion to N3.7 trillion, corroborating Senator Ningi’s concerns. In light of these revelations, there is a growing call for increased accountability and transparency within budgetary allocations, particularly in sectors where detailed breakdowns are lacking. Senator Ningi’s bold stance has ignited discussions surrounding fiscal responsibility and transparency in governance.

Senate Suspends Senator Ningi Over Allegations of N3.7 Trillion Budget Padding

In a startling development, the Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population and represents Bauchi Central under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. The suspension, effective immediately, will last for three months. This decision follows allegations of budget padding amounting to a staggering N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget, leveled against Ningi. The controversy surrounding Senator Ningi’s actions ignited a fierce debate within the Senate, with demands for a thorough investigation into the accusations. However, several northern senators swiftly distanced themselves from Ningi’s claims, asserting that his statements did not reflect their position on the matter. Despite facing opposition, Ningi stood firm in his assertion that the astronomical figure could not be accounted for within the budgetary framework. During a contentious plenary session, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, introduced a motion to address what he perceived as baseless accusations made by Ningi. This prompted a meticulous scrutiny of Ningi’s statements, including a review of the transcript from his interview with Hausa BBC. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension for Ningi, along with a cautionary warning for Senator Sumaila Kawu, while Senator Chris Ekpeyong countered with an amendment suggesting a reduced suspension period of six months. Amidst the deliberations, another senator advocated for a three-month suspension, further fueling the debate within the Senate chambers. As the Senate grapples with this contentious issue, Nigerians eagerly await further developments and the eventual resolution of this matter.

Budget Padding: Northern Senators Distance Themselves from Allegations

In response to recent allegations made by Senator Ahmed Abdul Ningi regarding the 2024 budget, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has issued a statement distancing themselves from his claims. Senator Ningi, who chairs the forum, made remarks on the BBC Hausa Service alleging budget padding, which the NSF vehemently refutes. According to the NSF, there was no mandate given to Senator Ningi to address the press on the matter, and his views were deemed as personal opinions that do not represent the stance of the Northern Senators. The forum highlights that the budget was presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in accordance with constitutional requirements and was diligently debated and passed by both chambers. Contrary to Senator Ningi’s assertion of a N25 trillion budget, the NSF clarifies that the budget passed was N28.7 trillion, allowing for adjustments in appropriations to address critical projects and services. The forum asserts that there was no budget padding involved in the process. Expressing solidarity with President Tinubu, the NSF emphasizes the need for collaboration across ethnic lines to address the challenges facing Nigeria. They pledge to work with colleagues from the southern part of the country to advance the nation’s prosperity. The NSF concludes by distancing themselves from Senator Ningi’s actions, labeling them as “grossly unparliamentary,” and reiterates their commitment to supporting efforts aimed at moving the country forward for the benefit of all citizens.

Presidency Speaks On Cabal Hijacking Tinubu’s Administration

The Nigerian Presidency has denied reports of a powerful ‘cabal’ forming in Aso-rock with the sole aim of hijacking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Appearing on TVC Politics on Sunday, Presidential media aide, Ajuri Ngelale disclosed that no one or any group of people could establish control over the President’s actions. He disclosed that the President has structured his government in a way that prevents any single official or group from exerting the kind of influence that could lead to governance hijack. He said, “The good fortune we have is that we elected, not just a professional accountant, a professional auditor, but we elected a man who fully understands the governance mechanisms, not just at the federal level, but at sub-national level. I think this is a man who anyone working in the office of the President would tell you, there is not one individual in the Presidency that has a monopoly over what the President sees, hears and reads. Nobody has that kind of power in the office of this President and that’s intentional.” “He is someone who everyone has access to, everyone who needs to have access to him, has access to him. He has direct communications on a frequent basis with the heads of intelligence agencies, anti-graft agencies, and the like.” “So there is not going to be the potential there for anyone to form a cabal around this President because he’s aware of the dynamics of what has happened in the past and he is determined to ensure that that is not replicated under his watch.” “I will also add the fact that in the person of the current CBN Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, this is a man who is reputed around the world as being a prudent manager of men and resources. This is someone who has a reputation, even within the government, of being tight fisted and that is by the intention of President Bola Tinubu to have someone like that in place. “I would also add that when you look at organizational structures that lead to Governor Emefiele, … put him in the position that he currently is in, the President has taken a comprehensive review of that structure and he has said, even by legislation, that we are going to ensure that not only guardrails are put in place, but that legislative changes be enacted in such a way that this can never happen again.” “He’s determined to do it, Nigerians will watch him do it and that will mean that moving forward, the kind of elite conspiracy we saw between CBN officials, high ranking government officials and high ranking members of the private sector, they’re not going to be able to conspire amongst themselves to find loopholes within the system because we have a President who’s an auditor and accountant, who will close those loopholes, just the way he did in Lagos State many years ago.”, he said.

Presidency Denies Allegation of Budget Padding 

Following accusations by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central (PDP) that the executive is implementing an additional budget  of N3tn other than the one approved on January 1, 2024, the Presidency has denied the allegation describing it as untrue and unfounded. This came as the Senate said it would meet over the matter on Tuesday, using its internal mechanisms and control process The Northern Senators’ Forum, led by Ningi, had contended in a BBC Hausa Service interview that the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, was executing a budget significantly higher than what was passed by the NASS. The lawmaker stated that a N25tn budget was debated and passed, not the N28.7tn that is currently being implemented. “Apart from what the National Assembly did on the floor, there was another budget that was done underground which we didn’t know. “The new things we have discovered in the budget were not known to us. We haven’t seen them in the budget that was debated and considered on the floor of the National Assembly. “For example, it was said that there was a budget of N28tn but what was passed was N25 trillion. So there is N3tn on top. Where are they, where is it going? So, we need to know this. There are a lot of things,” said Ningi. Ningi, also revealed plans to meet President Bola Tinubu later this week saying, “We are coming up with a report and we will show the president himself and ask him if he is aware or not.” He revealed that the forum had commissioned consultants to evaluate the 2024 budget to unearth how N3tn was surreptitiously included in the amount passed by lawmakers. Debunking the allegation in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described Ningi’s claims as “false” asserting that Tinubu had initially presented a N27.5tn budget to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023. It said the budget included N9.92tn for recurrent expenditure, N8.25tn for debt service, and N8.7tn for capital expenditure, contrasting Ningi’s claims. The Presidency emphasised that it was implausible for the Senate to have debated and passed a N25tn budget that was never presented. “Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25tn budget that was not presented to the National Assembly. We don’t expect a ranking Senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims. “It is also important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on January 1, 2024, as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7tn,” Onanuga insisted. It argued that the National Assembly only exercised its appropriation powers, and increased the executive’s proposed budget by N1.2tn to N28.7tn, which President Tinubu subsequently signed into law on New Year’s Day. Onanuga stated, “We want to state categorically that the only 2024 budget that is being implemented is the N28.7tn budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President. “Included in the budget are statutory transfers to the Judiciary, National Assembly, Tetfund and others. He did not present a budget of N25tn.” Addressing Senator Ningi’s assertion that the 2024 budget was anti-North, the Presidency dismissed it as “far-fetched” and “unbecoming” of a leader of his stature.”