According to sources, the three-month suspension slammed on Senator Abdul Ningi over allegations of N3.7 trillion padding of the 2024 budget may be reviewed.
Recall that the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio suspended Ningi amid the head of the controversy.
Jimoh Ibrahim, a member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, first moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly and Nigeria by extension.
Meanwhile, sources close to the leadership of the Senate talked to Daily Trust recently and disclosed that the allegation of budget padding was a plan to dent the image of the National Assembly and distract attention.
According to one of the sources, the issue, which culminated in Ningi’s suspension “is being resolved amicably.”
He said Ningi might be reinstated anytime “if he tenders a public apology to the Senate.”
He said: “I can tell you there is no tension in the Senate. The Senate remains one. The allegation about budget padding is just a ploy to tarnish the image of the senate under Godswill Akpabio who has shown uncommon commitment towards tackling the various challenges confronting the country by fostering effective collaboration with the Executive without jeopardizing the principle of separation of power.
“The N3.7 trillion that was mentioned represents the budget of government owned enterprises (GOEs) and they are expected to come to the Senate to defend their budget because the details are not always in the entire estimate. So, where is the budget padding allegation coming from? The budget was prepared by the executive. The House of Representatives plays more role in scrutinizing the budget and so where’s this allegation coming from if not because some people felt they should be the President of the Senate and not Senator Akpabio.
“There was also the allocation for Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs) for members of the National Assembly for their constituencies. The money is not being released to any lawmaker but this is in form of projects for their constituencies.”
