The Nigerian Senate has suspended the whistle-blowing opposition Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his allegations of 2024 budget padding against the senate leadership.
Senator Ningi, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population, had brought forward allegations suggesting that the Senate leadership inflated the 2024 budget by N3.7 trillion.
Tensions within the Senate escalated on Tuesday as the matter was debated, leading to a rowdy session.
Senator Ningi [PDP, Bauchi Central] addressing a press conference yesterday, raised alarms regarding purported budget padding by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the presidency.
The Nigerian public, not new to scandals of parliamentary budget padding in the past, didn’t think much of these allegations..
Ningi Suspended
Despite facing backlash from his fellow parliamentarians, Senator Ningi reiterated his stance on Monday, emphasizing the discrepancy of N3.7 trillion within the 2024 budget.
During the Tuesday session, disorder ensued as a senator proposed that Senator Olamilekan Adeola of the powerful Appropriation Committee address the issue of budget padding without further debate.
While calls for an investigation into the allegations were made, certain northern senators distanced themselves from Ningi’s claims, declaring he did not represent their views.
Senator Adeola, [APC, Ogun West] emphasized the urgency to refute what he termed as “false allegations“.
The Senate Committee on Appropriation proceeded to present transcripts of Senator Ningi’s BBC Hausa interview following Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s call for a comprehensive examination of the matter.
Jimoh Ibrahim, a member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, initially proposed a motion for the suspension of Ningi for 12 months, citing allegations of criminal misinformation and disturbance of peace within the National Assembly and the country.
However, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong [APC, Cross River South] advocated for an amendment to Ibrahim’s motion. Ekpenyong alongside Senator Abdulfatai BuharI [APC, Oyo North], proposed reducing the suspension period to six and three months respectively.
Senate President Akpabio, characterizing Ningi’s actions as “serious” and “grievous” proceeded to conduct a voice vote, during which a majority of lawmakers appeared to support a three-month suspension for Ningi.
What A Senator’s Suspension Means
According to the rules, a Committee of the Whole may move by a resolution, the suspension of a colleague.
Clarifying the implications of suspension, a former senator, Shehu Sani said, “Suspension in the Senate means a Senator will not be allowed to attend the plenary and will be prohibited from attending committee meetings and participating in oversight functions. His salary, allowances and all entitlements will be blocked.
“He will not have access to his office and he is expected not to be seen within the premises of the National Assembly until the suspension is lifted”.
Sani finally quipped, with all this to lose, he explained “If you talk too much,your bodi go tell you. That is why even the opposition no fit oppose too much”.
Senator Ningi Resigns
In response, Senator Abdul Ningi resigned his position as Chairman, Northern Senator’s Forum citing “unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North and Nation at large“.
It is believed the senator felt betrayed by the lack of support from his northern senate colleagues.
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