ALLEGED THREE TRILLION BUDGET PADDING, PEOPLES’ REPRESENTATIVES MUST PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT AS CDHR CALLS FOR THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
There are uproar on the floor of the red chamber of the national assembly in the last few days, resulting in accusations and counter accusations by prominent lawmakers as the red chamber was alleged of budget padding to the sum of three trillion naira. The Senate, in a rowdy session on Wednesday, 13th March, claimed that the 2024 budget was padded. According to Senator Abdul Ningi, a member representing Bauchi Central , the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion. He also made a claim that there were two versions of the budget. Ningi made these claims during a BBC Hausa Service interview at the weekend.
CDHR gathered from another source that Senator Ningi denied these claims attributed to him that he was quoted out of context because he spoke in Hausa. In another development, it was gathered that at the resumed plenary of the Senate on Tuesday, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, moved a motion, calling for the investigation to unraveled the alleged padding made by Senator Ningi.
In his contribution, a federal lawmaker representing Cross River North , Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe affirmed that the budget was padded. According to him, some senior senators received a huge sum of N500 million each from the 2024 budget.
CDHR, however, regarded this as a national mess and embarrassment at this critical time Nigerian masses are looking up to their representatives to find lasting solutions to end the lingering hunger and poverty ravaging the nation. The attitude of the red chamber of the national assembly has clearly shown that they lack competency and political will to solve the problems of the country rather than aggravating it.
CDHR condems the allegation of budget padding in totality and calls for urgent investigation by the legislature and executive arms of the government. All personalities culpable in the allegation should be made to face the full wrath of the law. CDHR will continue to monitor the events as it unfolds.
E-Signed:
Comrade Debo Adeniran,
National President CDHR Nigeria.
Comrade Idris Afees Olayinka,
National Publicity Secretary CDHR Nigeria.
