High drama anticipated as Senate convenes over alleged N3trn budget padding

The Nigerian Senate is set for a potentially explosive session on Tuesday as lawmakers convene to address allegations of a N3 trillion padding in the 2024 federal budget. This accusation was leveled by the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP – Bauchi Central).

Abdul Ningi made the claims during an interview aired by the BBC, Hausa Service.

In the aftermath, the Northern Senators Forum had on Saturday vowed to meet President Bola Tinubu over alleged N3trillion padding it ‘discovered’ in the 2024 budget.

Ningi said the forum had commissioned consultants to thoroughly scrutinize the 2024 budget to reveal how N3trillion was surreptitiously added to the amount passed on the floor by lawmakers.

He also said the Forum would soon confront Senate President Godswill Akpabio with its findings concerning the N3trillion alleged ‘padding.’

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Speaking to reporters after the panel’s meeting, the Chairman of the Committee, Solomon Adeola (APC – Ogun West), said the press conference was put on hold to allow the Senate to meet and deliberate on the allegations on Tuesday and thereafter make its position known.

“The Senate has its procedures and rules. Since the allegations did not come from an outsider but a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Senate will meet and deliberate on them on Tuesday before briefing the press,” Adeola said.

The N3 trillion figure represents a significant portion of the proposed budget, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the budgetary process. Ningi reportedly provided detailed documentation to support the claim, alleging that the padding involves inflated project costs, fictitious projects, and funds earmarked for nonexistent government agencies.

While the authenticity of the allegations remains unverified, they have already ignited a firestorm of debate.

The Senate session on Tuesday is expected to be a tense affair as lawmakers are likely to engage in heated debate over the allegations, with calls for a transparent and impartial investigation likely to dominate the proceedings.

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