Your Integrity Is intact, Tinubu Tells NASS, Dismisses Budget Padding Allegation

President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the ongoing padding allegation on the 2024 budget, saying that the integrity of the leadership of the National Assembly is intact and they should not lose sleep over the allegation.

According to a statement issued on Friday morning by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu stated this when he hosted the leadership of the Senate to a dinner to break the Ramadan fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President told members of the upper legislative chamber that his administration would always encourage cooperation for the advancement of the nation.

Tinubu was quoted as saying, “I know the arithmetic of the budget and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back. I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much.

“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget; they did not understand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.

“I am grateful for what you have been doing. The natural challenge we are facing will be over. On the current economic difficulty, we are about turning the corner. Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditure and manage ourselves better.

“Light is at the end of the tunnel, and Nigerians will soon smile again,” the President affirmed.