Accusation of 3.7 trillion naira budget: Senate recalls Ningi from suspension

After spending two months and 16 days outside the National Assembly, the Senate on Tuesday recalled its suspended member, Senator Abdul Ningi.

The motion to recall the Bauchi-Central MP was moved by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and unanimously approved by the Senators.

The decision to lift the suspension was taken after the senators concluded a closed session chaired by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The Senate had punished Ningi after he claimed that 3.7 trillion naira of the 28.7 trillion naira budget passed for 2024 could not be allocated to any project.

The Senate later confronted Ningi with the details of the budget, suggesting that he had not done his research properly.

The Senate then suspended him for three months, but stipulated that he could be recalled at any time provided he apologized to the Senate in writing.

On Tuesday, there was no indication that Ningi had submitted a written apology.

However, the Senate minority leadership said it was taking responsibility by apologizing on his behalf.

The motion for Ningi’s removal, moved by the Minority Leader on Tuesday, reads: “The Senate takes note that this Most Revered 10th Senate on Tuesday, 12th March 2024, in plenary, suspended the former Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, for three months following his media interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on 9th March 2024, in which he alleged that about 3.7 trillion Naira, representing over 10% of the 2024 budget, was illegally inserted into the 2024 national budget.

“Further notes that Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi was summoned to respond to his allegations of budget bloat against the National Assembly following a motion of urgent national importance by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Budgetary Matters. In the absence of any response to the allegations, the Senate resolved to suspend Senator Abdul Ahmed Ning for three months for breach of statutory requirements, misguided and unethical conduct following his interview with BBC Media on the 2024 Appropriations Bill, in the legislative process of which he was involved.

“Whereas the said Senator Abdul Ahmed Ninigi has spent over two months outside the National Assembly premises as a result of his suspension and is required to return to resume his legislative duties as Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District;

“It follows from the above that the Senate Minority Leadership accepts full responsibility for the actions of our colleague Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and apologises on his behalf.

“Accordingly, the Senate decided:

Reconsider the additional resolution of the Senate (i of the votes and proceedings of Wednesday, March 13, 2024) to recall Senator Abdul Ahmad Ning to the Senate as Senator for Bauchi Central Senatorial District.”

Ningi is expected to return to the National Assembly premises on Thursday.