I Never said Tinubu Was Operating Two Budgets – Senator Ningi
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi Central) has refuted the claim that he stated President Bola was operating two different budgets for 2024.
Earlier, BBC Hausa reported that Ningi made this statement during an interview with the media outlet.
The report quoted Ningi as having spoken under the banner of the Northern Senators’ Forum and claimed that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 budget and not the N28.7 trillion that the Federal Government was implementing.
Earlier, BBC Hausa reported that Ningi made this statement during an interview with the media outlet.
The report quoted Ningi as having spoken under the banner of the Northern Senators’ Forum and claimed that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 budget and not the N28.7 trillion that the Federal Government was implementing.
However, Ningi, on Monday (today) clarified that he was misrepresented and expressed surprise at the turn of events. He emphasized that he was not speaking on behalf of the Northern Senators’ Forum, but rather in his capacity. He said: “With the press release I saw in the media yesterday, I am taken aback.
“At no time did I say Bola Tinubu was implementing two budgets. There was no time. At no time did I say Bola Tinubu was biased against the north.
“At no time did I say Bola Tinubu is implementing a N25 trillion budget. There is no way I will talk about N25 trillion and N28 trillion.”
“At no time did I say Bola Tinubu was implementing two budgets. There was no time. At no time did I say Bola Tinubu was biased against the north.
“At no time did I say Bola Tinubu is implementing a N25 trillion budget. There is no way I will talk about N25 trillion and N28 trillion.”
Reacting to Ningi’s interview on Sunday in Abuja, the presidency dismissed his claims as unfortunate, coming from a high-ranking senator.
“Sen. Ningi’s allegation that President Tinubu is operating two budgets for 2024 is untrue,” said Bayo Onanuga, the President’s special adviser on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu presented a budget of N27.5 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.
President Tinubu presented a budget of N27.5 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.
The budget comprised of N9.92 trillion for recurrent expenditure, N8.25 trillion for debt servicing, and N8.7 trillion for capital expenditure.
Onanuga said: “Contrary to the strange view expressed by Sen. Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed an N25 Trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly.
“We do not expect a ranking senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims.
Onanuga said: “Contrary to the strange view expressed by Sen. Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed an N25 Trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly.
“We do not expect a ranking senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims.
“It is also important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on Jan. 1, 2024, as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7 trillion.
“The National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased the amount proposed by the Executive by N1.2 trillion.
“In the spirit of democracy, which allows give and take, President Tinubu did not withhold his assent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly.”
“The National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased the amount proposed by the Executive by N1.2 trillion.
“In the spirit of democracy, which allows give and take, President Tinubu did not withhold his assent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly.”
