The Nigerian Senate has explained that the N3trillion alleged to be padded was actually statutory Transfers to first line charge agencies of government not domiciled in the ministries.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity Senator Yemi Adaramodu gave the explanation, while speaking with journalists on the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi over alleged padding of 2024 budget.
Senator Adaramodu said the 10th Senate needed to be treasured as pillar of democracy and would only do what would promote national interest
He stated that there was nothing like budget padding, saying the false narrative on N3trillion padding was a demonstration of error of arithmetic and innocent of procedure by the protagonists of budget padding.
He said; “The N3 trillion is for statutory transfers of government agencies on the first lines charges.”
He listed the agencies to include Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Public Complaints Commission, National Judicial Council, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger -Delta Development Commission Commission (NDDC) among others.
Senator Adaramodu also dismissed the issue of provision of N500 million as constituency fund to senators, describing the allegation as a ferry tale.
He urged journalists to study the 2024 budget to investigate allocations to National Assembly.
The Lawmaker said the issue of budget padding was a negative connotation and a serious crime in budgeting , hence senate didn’t take it lightly.
He said; “It is a matter of integrity, issue of budget has been put to rest as the protagonist of the budget padding were called to substantiate and they could not prove it but the allegations can not just go without been attended to.
“The Appropriation Act is a public document and when it was done,it was done in the public glare and it was N28.77 trillion and so for some to say N25 trillion was what was approved is scary.”
“Statutory transfers for agencies on first line charges, that are not domiciled in the Ministries was what Ningi said was padded, that the allocation can not be traced,” Senator Adaramodu said.
He reiterated that the N3trillion was not padded, was not missing, but was for agencies of government that were placed on first line charge.
Senator Adaramodu also said the allegation that a section of the country was allocated more funds than other regions was not put in right perspective, saying that allocations was done sectoriallly.
The Senate image maker said the integrity of National Assembly was in question, hence the matter was treated with the seriousness it deserved.
Senator Abdul Ningi who is the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP), representing Bauchi Bauchi Central Senatorial District. had on Tuesday alleged that the Upper Chamber padded the 2024 national budget.
Senator Ningi had said in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service that the administration of President Tinubu was implementing two versions of budget aside from the one approved on January 1, 2024.
VON