The Presidency and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) are close circuiting each other over allegations of the 9th Senate padding the 2024 budget by N3 trillion.
While the Presidency denied allegations, SERAP wrote ‘‘We urge the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio to urgently clarify the allegations that “senators under his watch discreetly inserted projects with no locations and worth N4 trillion in the 2024 budget.”
The reactions followed accusations by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central (PDP) that the executive is implementing a budget other than the one approved on January 1, 2024.
Ningi who under the aegis of the Northern Senators’ Forum, had alleged in a BBC Hausa Service interview that the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, was executing a budget significantly higher than what was passed by the National Assembly.
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According to the lawmaker, N25tn budget was debated and passed, not the N28.7 trillion that is currently being implemented.
“Apart from what the National Assembly did on the floor, there was another budget that was done underground which we didn’t know.
“The new things we have discovered in the budget were not known to us. We haven’t seen them in the budget that was debated and considered on the floor of the National Assembly.
“For example, it was said that there was a budget of N28tn but what was passed was N25 trillion. So there is N3tn on top. Where are they, where is it going? So, we need to know this. There are a lot of things,” said Ningi.
“The North as an integral part of the country is well covered in all areas, from security to agriculture, healthcare to education, and other important infrastructure such as roads, rail, dams, power and irrigation projects to support all year-round agriculture,” the statement read.
It also expressed concern that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can “employ such primordial antics to fuel divisive rhetoric at a time well-meaning Nigerians are joining hands with President Tinubu to raise the spirit of national cohesion, unity and inclusive politics.”
The lawmaker also revealed plans to meet President Bola Tinubu later this week saying, “We are coming up with a report and we will show the president himself and ask him if he is aware or not.”
He revealed that the forum has commissioned consultants to evaluate the 2024 budget to unearth how N3tn was surreptitiously included in the amount passed by lawmakers.
However, in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described Ningi’s claims as “false,” asserting that Tinubu had initially presented a N27.5tn budget to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.
He said this budget included N9.92 trillion for recurrent expenditure, N8.25tn for debt service, and N8.7tn for capital expenditure, contrasting Ningi’s claims.
The Presidency emphasised that it was implausible for the Senate to have debated and passed a N25trillion budget that was never presented.
“Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly.
“We don’t 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 January 1, 2024, as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7tn,” Onanuga insisted.
He argued that the National Assembly only exercised its appropriation powers and increased the executive’s proposed budget by N1.2 trillion to N28.7 trillion, which President Tinubu subsequently signed into law on New Year’s Day.
Onanuga stated, “We want to state categorically that the only 2024 budget that is being implemented is the N28.7 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President.
“Included in the budget are statutory transfers to the Judiciary, National Assembly, Tetfund and others. He did not present a budget of N25tn.”
Addressing Ningi’s assertion that the 2024 budget was anti-North, the Presidency dismissed it as “far-fetched” and “unbecoming” of a leader of his stature.
“On the uncharitable claim that the 2024 budget was anti-North, we found such position as canvassed by Senator Ningi as too far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status.
“President Tinubu is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria. In terms of funding, distribution of capital and priority projects, the 2024 Appropriation Act was not skewed against any section of the country.
“The North as an integral part of the country is well covered in all areas, from security to agriculture, healthcare to education, and other important infrastructure such as roads, rail, dams, power and irrigation projects to support all year-round agriculture,” the statement read.
It also expressed concern that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can “employ such primordial antics to fuel divisive rhetoric at a time well-meaning Nigerians are joining hands with President Tinubu to raise the spirit of national cohesion, unity and inclusive politics.”
Onanuga thanked the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, for “setting the record straight,” and commended Senators Steve Karimi (Kogi), Titus Zam (Benue) and Kaka Sheu (Borno) for “coming out against the misrepresentation of facts by Senator Ningi.”
However, Ningi countered, saying ‘‘Ningi, while briefing Senate Press Corps on Alleged Budget Padding declared ‘‘I am not afraid of suspension by the Senate — I stand by what I said.
‘‘N3.7 Trillion not traced to any project in the 2024 Budget — I spoke for myself and not on behalf of Northerner Senator forum — I never said the federal government is operating two budget — I only said N25 Trillion traced to projects and N3.7 Trillion not Traced to Any project.’’
SERAP’s stance against padded budget
Meanwhile, in its X account (formerly Twitter), SERAP penned ‘‘Mr Akpabio should immediately refer the allegations to anticorruption agencies. We’ll take legal action if these steps are not taken. The allegations suggest a subversion of the budget process, which in itself is a crime but also a fundamental breach of constitutional provisions and an affront to human rights.
‘‘Allegations of budget padding amount to corruption. Any appearance of corruption in the budget process can result in a cynical public to lose interest in political participation altogether. And democracy can’t work unless Nigerians have faith in those who govern.
‘‘Any failure to ensure a prompt, thorough, impartial, independent, effective and transparent investigation into the allegations would seriously compromise the ability of the Senate to function as a watchdog and credible guardian of the public interest.’’
