In a statement on Monday, NSF said the allegation by Ningi
is false, noting that there was never a time the forum mandated him to speak on
the budget.
“The budget was presented to the national assembly during a
joint session of the two chambers – Senate and House of Representatives – by
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 29, 2023, in line with the requirement
of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement
reads.
“That both chambers of the national assembly diligently and
meticulously debated, processed and passed the proposal of the President. And
satisfied with it, the President assented to it.
“It is clear that Mr
President presented a budget of N27. 5 trillion to the National Assembly and
the Assembly passed a budget of N28.7 trillion based on the need to make
increases or decreases in the appropriations of the various MDAs which is in
tandem with the legislative powers of the National Assembly in order to address
critical projects and services across various sectors.
“Therefore, the statement made by Senator Ningi that the
2024 budget presented to the National Assembly by Mr President was the sum of
N25 trillion was not correct and that should not be taken as the position of
the Northern Senators Forum.
“That to the best of our knowledge there was no budget
padding, whatsoever that was done to the 2024 budget.
“The assertion by Senator Ningi that certain things were
done to the bill is his personal opinion. It is not the view of the generality
of us, the northern senators.”
The members of the forum said they would continue to work
with their colleagues in the southern part of the country to move Nigeria
forward for the benefit of all.
The statement was signed by senators Aminu Abass, Ibrahim
Bomai, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, Lawal Usman, Jibrin Isah, Diket Plang, and Saliu
Mustapha.
