The Senate is currently engaged in a tumultuous session regarding the accusation of budget padding leveled against it. Abdul Ningi, a Senator from Bauchi Central and Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, alleged that the Senate inflated the budget by N3.7 trillion.
According to Ningi, the National Assembly approved a budget of N25 trillion for 2024, contrasting with the N28.7 trillion currently being implemented by the Federal Government. These claims were made during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service. In response, Akpabio criticized Ningi’s statement and demanded an apology for tarnishing the Senate’s reputation. Nevertheless, the Senate descended into chaos as the issue was discussed.