A mild drama ensued in the Senate before the plenary began at about 11 am when the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen Olamileken Adeola (Ogun West) aggressively stormed into the chamber.
Sen Adeola was visibly angry and speaking in a high tone, repeatedly said, “No closed door, let’s do it open.”
He had to address the press on Sunday but changed his mind, saying the matter would be resolved on the floor.
The lawmaker said at first he wanted to address the alleged budget padding, but withdrew it so that the Senate can decide pn it.
Adeola, amid other Senators from the Northern and Southern, said since Ningi whom he said participated in the process of the budget making, made the allegation of budget padding, the best place to react was in the Senate Chamber on Tuesday.
Senator Adeola said, “As you people can see, many Senators are here with me across the six geo-political zones to react to what a senator said at the weekend on alleged two versions of the 2024 budget but after realizing that there are laid down procedures and processes to follow in dealing with such a matter involving an insider, we have decided, to shift the venue of reaction to the Senate Chamber on Tuesday, after which, journalists would be briefed adequately.
Ningi had told the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service) on Saturday, that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year, is N25tn but the Presidency is implementing another one to the tune of N28.7tn.
Ningi was quoted to have said, “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets. One budget was approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one was implemented by the presidency.”
“The one approved by us is ₦25tn while the one operating by Federal Government is ₦28tn
“Apparently, we discovered ₦3tn was inserted into the budgets for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio’s watch.”
“We resolved as people Representatives to see President Tinubu on this issue, with facts and figures, to ask him if he is aware of this embarrassment or not, then from there we will take action.
“Let Nigerians be patient with us. This is a national issue; it affects all Nigerians irrespective of party, tribe or religion.”
But the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) has since refuted the claim on Saturday night, saying that there was no padding whatsoever in the budget.
Adaramodu said “There is no budget padding as far as the Senate and the National Assembly are concerned.
“The national budget is a public document, which expressly states the expected revenue and the expenditure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio is not aware of any varied execution of the 2024 appropriation mandate, as approved.”
