Senate Suspends Abdul Ningi For Three Months Over 2024 Budget Padding Claim

The Senate has suspended the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Abdul Ningi, for three months from all legislative duties.

Ningi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended during Tuesday’s plenary over allegations of padding of the 2024 budget.

A member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, first moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly and the country by extension.

However, other lawmakers, such as Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong and Musa Dani, moved to amend Ibrahim’s motion.

Ekpenyong, who is from Cross River South Senatorial District, prayed for the suspension to be reduced to six months, which was seconded by Senator Musa.

Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South) thereafter, moved that Ningi be suspended for three months or an apology be accepted if he wrote to the Senate within 24 hours.

He was seconded by Senator Sani Musa ( APC, Niger East), whose motion the Senate eventually adopted.

Following the adoption, it was agreed that the Bauchi lawmaker should be suspended for three months without pay, after which the sergeants-at-arm escorted him out of the Red Chamber.

Recall that Senator Ningi, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, alleged that the National Assembly padded the 2024 budget with N3.7 trillion.

The Bauchi Central Senator also claimed that the 2024 budget passed is N25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn.