The Presidency has vehemently refuted allegations made by Senator Abdul Ningi, accusing President Bola Tinubu of implementing a different version of the 2024 budget than the one approved by the National Assembly. The controversy deepened as the senator, also the head of the Northern Senators Forum, claimed the budget was skewed against northern Nigeria.
The presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, responded with a detailed statement, denouncing Senator Ningi's claims as false and misleading. Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu had presented a budget of N27.5 trillion, not the N25 trillion asserted by the senator.
"To begin with, President Tinubu on November 29, 2023, presented a budget of N27.5 Trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly," Onanuga stated, countering Ningi's narrative. The presidential spokesperson criticized the senator's lack of attention to details and asserted that the N28.7 trillion budget signed into law on January 1, 2024, was the accurate figure.
On the accusation of regional bias, Onanuga defended President Tinubu, stating, "President Tinubu is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria." He refuted the notion that the 2024 budget favored any specific region, highlighting the comprehensive coverage of the North in various sectors.
The dispute took another twist when it was revealed that Senator Ningi and other senators, in a closed-door meeting, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of illegally inflating the budget sum. Akpabio denied the allegation during the meeting, adding further complexity to the unfolding political saga.
The presidency commended Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, for setting the record straight. Other senators, including Steve Sunday Karimi (Kogi), Titus Tartenger Zam (Benue), and Kaka Sheu (Borno), were praised for their forthrightness in countering what the presidency labeled as a "misrepresentation of facts" by Senator Ningi.
As the political firestorm continues, the nation watches closely to see how this clash between the Presidency and a ranking senator unfolds, with implications for trust, transparency, and the delicate balance of regional interests in Nigeria's governance.
