Rumpus In Senate Over N3trn Unexplained Fund In 2024 Budget

There seems to be rumpus in the Nigerian Senate over the rumoured padding of the 2024 budget.

Osun Defender reports that the Northern Senators Forum had alleged that N3trn unexplained fund was added to the budget.

The revelation was made by the chairman of the forum, Abdul Ningi in an interview aired on BBC Hausa Service on Saturday.

However, the Senate Committee Chairman on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, in a statement on Saturday evening, denied the allegations.

Adaramodu questioned the motives of those spreading falsehoods despite the transparent process the budget underwent before being assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

He said the budget document detailing expected revenue and expenditure was already in the public domain, emphasizing that the 10th Senate led by Senator Godswill Akpabio was not aware of any altered version.

The statement read: “There is no budget padding as far as the Senate and the National Assembly are concerned. The National budget is a public document that explicitly states the expected revenue and expenditure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Senate, under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, is not aware of any altered execution of the 2024 appropriation mandate, as approved.

“The budget presentation and approval processes were conducted in the public eye, and the Presidential assent was also part of a public ceremony.

“Any infractions would have been brought before the Senate, if any.

“The general public should rest assured that there is no budget padding anywhere, and we are confident that the 2024 appropriation law shall be strictly executed under strict legislative oversight.”