President Bola Tinubu has defended the 2024 budget proposal against allegations of padding by some lawmakers. Reports that Tinubu who spoke at an iftar gathering of members of the Senate argued that those who made the allegations did not understand how the appropriation act worked.
The controversy emerged after the National Assembly passed the appropriation bill, increasing its size from N27.5 trillion proposed by Tinubu to N28.7 trillion. Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi Central, claimed that the budget was padded by N3 trillion and that the country is operating two budgets concurrently.
The Senate debated the matter and Senator Ningi was suspended for three months for allegedly not providing evidence to back his allegations. Despite the controversy, Tinubu insisted that the integrity of the Senate remained intact. “I know the arithmetic of the numbers that I brought to the senate and I know what I got back,” the president said. “And I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much. “Those who are talking of malicious embellishment in the budget didn’t understand the arithmetic and they didn’t refer to the numbers… the baseline of what I brought. “All of your integrity is intact.
I am very grateful for what you have been doing.” Tinubu assured Nigerians that the challenges and economic hardship in the country will soon be over. “The natural challenge that we face will be over,” he added. “On the economic challenge, we are about turning the corner.”
