The Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his allegation against the presidency of 2024 budget padding.
The lawmaker representing Bauchi Central was suspended during the senate plenary on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, following a call to suspend him by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Ningi had in a recent interview accused the executive of implementing a budget the National Assembly did not approve.
In the interview, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central alleged that an additional ₦3 trillion was added to the 2024 budget.
According to him, the National Assembly debated and passed a ₦25tn budget, but the executive is implementing a ₦28tn budget.
Debunking Ningi’s allegation, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, described the lawmaker’s claim as false.
Onanuga said the alleged ₦25tn budget was never presented to the Senate.
However, the Senate, during its plenary deliberated on the matter and many lawmakers submitted that Ningi’s action embarrassed the integrity of the National Assembly.
After a long deliberation, Jimoh Ibrahim, the senator representing Ondo South moved a motion that Ningi be suspended for 12 months. He also proposed that his entitlements and privileges be suspended as well.
But Senator Chris Ekpeyong, representing Akwa-Ibom North-West, in his motion of amendment moved that the suspension of the erring lawmaker be reduced to six months.
Ekpeyon’s motion was followed by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari‘s plea that the Senate should reduce his suspension to three months.
The lawmaker representing Oyo North also urged the Senate to give Ningi the privilege to apologise for his ‘mistake.’
Buhari’s submission was supported by Senator Sani Musa and after putting the amended motion to a voice vote, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced Ningi’s suspension from the House for three months.
