The Office of the Presidency has strongly denied assertions made by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central, alleging that President Bola Tinubu endorsed a padded and discriminatory 2024 budget.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service, Senator Ningi claimed the existence of two distinct budgets: one worth N25 trillion passed by the National Assembly, and another valued at N28.7 trillion currently in implementation by the government. He further suggested that the latter budget favored certain regions over others, particularly indicating bias against the North.
However, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, rebuffed Ningi’s claims, labeling them as baseless and unfounded in a statement released on Sunday.
“Onanuga dismissed Senator Ningi’s allegations, emphasizing that there was no possibility for the Senate to deliberate and approve a N25 trillion budget that was not formally presented to the National Assembly. He expressed disappointment in the lack of attention to detail displayed by the esteemed Senator before making such sweeping accusations,” said Onanuga.
The Special Adviser clarified that President Tinubu initially proposed a N27.5 trillion budget to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023, refuting Ningi’s claim of a N25 trillion proposal.
Onanuga pointed out that it was within the legislative prerogative of the National Assembly to increase the budget figure to N28.7 trillion before passing it.
“In the spirit of democracy, President Tinubu did not withhold his consent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly. It is essential to emphasize that any increase in the budget figure, resulting in a variance from the Executive’s proposal, was the decision of the National Assembly exercising its appropriation authority,” Onanuga emphasized.
Addressing the accusation of bias against the North, Onanuga deemed Ningi’s assertion as far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his stature. He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to fairness and equity across all regions of Nigeria, stressing that the 2024 Appropriation Act did not unfairly favor any section of the country.
“Onanuga applauded senators who refuted Ningi’s misrepresentation of facts, condemning his divisive rhetoric as primitive tactics. He reiterated President Tinubu’s adherence to constitutional principles, affirming that Tinubu would never implement a budget that had not received approval from the National Assembly.”
