From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank, has expressed disappointment with the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Abdul Ningi over his recent outburst, saying that the National Assembly debated and passed N25 trillion as the 2024 budget and not the N28.7 trillion that is being implemented by the Federal Government.
Senator Ningi who represents Bauchi Central acted under the banner of the Northern Senators Forum, when he made the false claims in an interview he granted BBC Hausa Service.
The lawmaker also lamented in that interview that things have become worse in the country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government, adding that Nigerians are going through a lot of challenges
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the Chief Convener of Arewa Think Tank Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu said the claims by Senator Ningi that President Tinubu-led Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget, contained no single iota of truth whatsoever in the allegation.
“To begin with, President Tinubu on November 29, 2023, presented a budget of N27.5 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly made up of N9.92 trillion recurrent expenditure, Debt Service of N8.25 trillion, and Capital Expenditure of N8.7 trillion.
“This was widely reported by the media and other relevant channels of communication. President Tinubu did not present a budget of N25 trillion.
“We cannot make any sensible point out of the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, because there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed an N25 trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly.
“We don’t expect a ranking Senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild and ambiguous claims.
“We consider it necessary and important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on January 1, 2024, as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7 trillion.
“The National Assembly which Senator Ningi is part and parcel of, in its wisdom, increased the amount proposed by the Executive by N1.2 trillion.
“In the spirit of democracy which allows give and take, President Tinubu didn’t withhold his assent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly.
“We want to make it clear to the understanding of Nigerians that if the budget figure was increased and made to be different from what the Executive proposed, it was the National Assembly that jacked it up in the exercise of its power of appropriation.
“On the uncharitable claim that the 2024 budget was anti-North, we found such a position as canvassed by Senator Ningi too far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status from the Northern region of the country. We distant ourselves from the lawmaker on this.
“President Tinubu is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria. In terms of funding, distribution of capital, and priority projects, the 2024 Appropriation Act was not skewed against any section of the country.
“The North as an integral part of the country is well covered in all areas, from security to agriculture, healthcare to education, and other important infrastructure such as roads, rail, dams, power, and irrigation projects to support all year-round agriculture.
“We consider it more disappointing that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can employ such primordial antics to fuel divisive rhetoric at a time when well-meaning Nigerians are joining hands with President Tinubu to raise the spirit of national cohesion, unity, and inclusive politics.
“We want to use this opportunity to commend the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity for setting the record straight, and for its forthrightness and for coming out against the misrepresentation of facts by Senator Ningi. We also commend Senator Kaka Sheu (Borno) in this regard.
“We believe that President Tinubu is a firm believer in the rule of law and constitutional democracy. As an avowed democrat, he will not engage and indulge in any unconstitutional action or act in any manner that assaults the Constitution of Nigeria by operating any budget outside the one approved by the National Assembly, which he dutifully signed into law,” Alhaji Yakubu said.