Senator Ningi resumes his suspension

After failing to serve 75 of the 90 days of suspension imposed on him by the Senate on March 12, 2024, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) officially resumed his legislative duties in the Senate in plenary session on Tuesday.

Following a motion by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, on behalf of the minority faction, the Senate recalled Senator Ningi from three-month suspension.

Recall that Senator Ningi was suspended by the Senate Committee of the Whole on Budget 2024 Inflating after he accused the Senate of budget inflating in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

The MP was suspended for three months on March 12, 2023, but the Senate unanimously decided on Tuesday to recall his colleague from suspension.

It may be recalled that Senator Olamilekan Adeola had the opportunity under Orders 9, 10, 41 and 51 to file an application for a grant of privilege and a matter of national importance against Ningi in connection with his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service).

Ningi had claimed in the interview that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was 25 trillion naira while the budget implemented by the President was 28.7 trillion naira.

The motion for Ningi’s unconditional removal was supported by Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, Senator Olalere Oyewumi and Senator Osita Ngwu.

Senator Ningi was delighted to be back in the Senate and was among the first Senators and MPs to arrive for the plenary session of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Senator Ningi, together with some other Senators including Suleiman Kawu (NNPP Kano South) and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP Sokoto South), entered the National Assembly through the Villa Gate.

He arrived at the complex promptly at 10:40, 20 minutes before the scheduled start time of 11:00 for the plenary session, which did not even begin until 12:10.

Following his suspension, Senator Ningi lost his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, which was assigned to Senator Mustapha Musa (APC Yobe East), two days after the now lifted suspension.