During a recent appearance on Arise TV, Senator Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North Senatorial District, expressed his belief that Senator Abdul Ningi should have brought his allegations of budget padding to the Senate for discussion during a plenary session.
Senator Ningi, representing Bauchi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had raised concerns that approximately N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget was not allocated to any specific projects.
Following deliberations in the Senate, Senator Ningi was suspended for three months due to the allegations he brought forward.
Senator Jarigbe revealed that the controversial N3.7 trillion was eventually found to be attributed to the General Orders of Expenditure (GOEs), judiciary, and the National Assembly.
He suggested that Senator Ningi should have refrained from going to the media with the allegations of budget padding and instead brought the matter directly to the Senate for discussion.
Senator Jarigbe pointed out, “If the issue was presented on the Senate floor, the misunderstanding surrounding the N3.7 trillion could have been clarified.”
He further elaborated that an investigation by the Senate Committee on Appropriation revealed that the funds were indeed allocated to specific areas such as the GOEs, judiciary, and national assemblies.