Senators representing the 19 Northern States and the FCT, operating under the banner of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), has distanced themselves from claims made by Sen. Ahmed Abdul Ningi regarding the 2024 budget.
This comes after Sen. Ningi, who chairs the forum and represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserted in an interview with BBC Hausa Service that there were irregularities in the budget.
The Northern Senators in a statement on Monday collectively clarified that Senator Ningi’s statements were solely his personal opinion and did not reflect the consensus of the forum.
They highlighted that the budget, presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 29, 2023, was thoroughly debated and scrutinized by both chambers before its passage.
Contrary to Senator Ningi’s claims, they emphasized that the budget presented by President Tinubu was N27.5 trillion, and the final passed budget was N28.7 trillion, adjusted to address critical projects and services across various sectors.
Furthermore, the Northern Senators firmly denied any involvement in budget padding, asserting that Senator Ningi’s allegations were unfounded and unrepresentative of the majority’s stance.
They underscored their unwavering support for President Tinubu and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to address Nigeria’s challenges, transcending ethnic sentiments.
The statement concluded with a commitment to work alongside their counterparts from the southern region to advance the nation’s prosperity and development.
