N3.7 trillion not traced to projects, as Ningi says he owe no one apology

A Federal Lawmaker, Senator Abdul Ningi has insisted that the sum of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget signed into law by President Bola Tinubu could not traced to any project which suggested padding.

Ningi who reacted to backlash on an interview he granted to the media on Monday last week, insisted that out of N28.7 trillion budget passed into law, “the sum of N25 trillion was traced to projects and N3.7 trillion was not traced to any project.”

Speaking with Senate Press Corps, the lawmaker however, clarified that he never granted interview in his capacity as Chairman of Northern Senators Forum as was misguided by some media platforms, but he spoke in his personal capacity as an opposition Senator in the 10th Senate.

On Sunday, DAILY POST reported that Senator Sunday Karimi from Kogi, Titus Tartenger Zam from Benue and Kaka Shehu denounced Ningi’s allegation that the budget was padded.

Continuing, Ningi said, he did not accuse President Tinubu of implementing two budgets, noting that it was a misquotation by the musketeers, while he promised to make audio copy of the interview he granted to whoever that care, adding that he owe nobody apology for what he said.

He said: “I did not accuse President Tinubu of implementing two budget documents as portrayed, I only said, N3.7 trillion was not traced to projects.”

Ningi who is a member of the newly inaugurated Senate Ad-hoc Committee to investigate Ways and Means, declared that he was not afraid of suspension from the Senate for saying the truth, neither should anyone suffer consequence on his behalf.

He said: “I am not afraid of suspension. I have been out of Senate for eight years before I was voted back in 2023 general election and suspending me for saying the truths means nothing to me.”