The Senate’s Tuesday session became turbulent as it discussed allegations of budget padding brought up by Senator Abdul Ningi.
Nigeria’s National Assembly, particularly the Senate, has a history of controversies, a trend that has persisted since the nation’s transition to democracy in 1999.
The 10th National Assembly continues this trend, with the latest controversy involving claims of padding the 2024 National Appropriation Act by N3.7 trillion. Despite denials from both the presidency and legislative branch, this issue has shed light on opaque financial allocations to the National Assembly, raising doubts about its integrity.
During the heated debate, Senator Jarigbe disclosed that some senators purportedly received N500 million each from the 2024 budget. This revelation, made on the Senate floor, adds to the ongoing scrutiny of budgetary processes.
Senator Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, initially raised the alarm about the alleged padding, which sparked the controversy. He questioned the fairness of budget allocations across different senatorial districts and challenged the transparency of Senate leadership’s expenditures.
These controversies have fueled calls to reduce the National Assembly’s budget, with critics arguing that lawmakers aren’t delivering commensurate results.
The National Assembly’s past controversies include amendments to the 2022 supplementary budget, which allocated N70 billion for lawmakers’ working conditions, drawing criticism from the public.
Additionally, the purchase of new SUVs for lawmakers further stirred public outrage amid economic hardship.
Senator Akpabio’s inadvertent revelation of funds sent to senators during recess added fuel to the controversy, highlighting issues of fiscal transparency and accountability within the National Assembly.
Former President Buhari’s concerns about budget padding further underscore the recurring nature of such controversies, with recent revelations by Senator Ningi reigniting debates over fiscal integrity and legislative accountability.
The unfolding drama in the Senate has drawn mixed reactions, with some defending the institution’s integrity, while others view the allegations as symptomatic of broader systemic issues. Calls for transparency and accountability within the National Assembly persist amidst ongoing debates and revelations.