Ndume Issues Warning to Ningi Over Budget Padding Allegations

• Senator Ali Ndume warned Senator Abdul Ningi about false accusations of budget padding, leading to Ningi’s subsequent three-month suspension
• Ndume criticized Ningi’s attempt to politicize the budget and emphasized the fairness of allocation between the North and South

Senator Ali Ndume, the Senate’s chief whip, revealed his prior warning to Senator Abdul Ningi regarding the accusation of budget padding amounting to over N3 trillion in the 2024 budget. Despite Ndume’s cautionary advice, Ningi disregarded it, leading to his subsequent suspension by the Senate for three months due to a false claim.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume expressed his disapproval of Ningi’s actions, stating, “I sat next to the Senate Leader (Opeyemi Bamidele). He was very angry about what Ningi did, but honestly, me too.” Ndume emphasized his involvement in the matter and stressed the inaccuracies in Ningi’s assertions.

Ndume clarified that the initial issue arose when concerns were raised about the alleged bias in capital projects towards the South in the president’s budget presentation. However, Ndume disputed Ningi’s inflated figure of N15 trillion, asserting that even with amendments, the budget did not reach such an amount.

According to Ndume, he cautioned Ningi to seek consultation to analyze the budget properly, but Ningi refused to heed his advice. Ndume criticized Ningi’s attempt to politicize the 2024 budget, emphasizing that it was improper to make it an ethnic and political issue.

Ndume further reiterated that he, as a senior member of the Senate, can attest to the fairness of the budget allocation between the North and the South, contradicting Ningi’s claims.

Ningi’s assertion that the Federal Government operated two versions of the 2024 budget was criticised by many Senators and the Presidency, who deemed his claims unfounded and inappropriate for a leader of his stature.

Despite initially denying the allegation of operating two budgets, Ningi maintained that some of the budgets lacked project allocation. His readiness to face the consequences, including suspension, was evident before his eventual suspension from the Senate.