Former Kaduna lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has shed light on the controversial practice of budget padding within Nigeria's National Assembly. Amidst a backdrop of heightened scrutiny following allegations of budget mismanagement, particularly involving the Senate, Sani's revelations provide invaluable insight into the opaque workings of legislative processes.
The recent suspension of Bauchi Central lawmaker Abdul Ningi, who raised concerns about unaccounted funds in the budget, underscores the gravity of the situation.
Sani elucidates that budget padding entails the addition of new projects or inflation of project costs, often without proper justification. This manipulation can involve inserting unauthorized projects or inflating costs beyond what was originally proposed by the President or Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Sani's elucidation illuminates a pervasive issue within Nigeria's governance framework, prompting renewed calls for transparency and accountability reforms to safeguard public funds.
