President Bola Tinubu on Thursday told the leadership of the 10th Senate that the integrity of the National Assembly remains intact in the thick of allegations of budget padding over the last few weeks.
He emphasized his administration’s commitment to fostering cooperation between the executive and judiciary for the progress of the nation. Tinubu made these remarks during a dinner he hosted for the Senate leadership to break the Ramadan fast at the State House in Abuja.
Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, released a statement titled ‘President Tinubu: We will not allow anyone to undermine our security; killers of soldiers in Delta State will face certain justice,’ in the early hours of Friday.
Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central, representing the PDP, alleged that the Tinubu-led government is implementing a budget different from the one approved on January 1, 2024. Ningi, who chairs the Northern Senators’ Forum and the Senate Committee on Population, claimed in a BBC Hausa Service interview that a N25 trillion budget was debated and passed, not the N28.7 trillion currently being implemented. He argued that N3.7 trillion couldn’t be accounted for in the 2024 budget.
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However, during a plenary session on March 12, the Senate suspended Senator Ningi for three months over this allegation. In response to the allegations, Tinubu stated publicly for the first time, “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.”
Tinubu expressed gratitude to lawmakers and highlighted that Nigeria is nearing a turning point in overcoming economic challenges. He mentioned improvements in revenue and emphasized the importance of controlling expenditures and better management. He assured that the country is approaching the end of economic difficulties, with better days ahead for Nigerians.
Tinubu also thanked the National Assembly for swiftly addressing the Student Loan Amendment Bill and urged for increased tolerance, forgiveness, and charity during Ramadan.
Furthermore, he emphasized that perpetrators of the killing of soldiers in Delta State will face justice, underscoring his administration’s zero tolerance for attacks on military and security infrastructure.The President reiterated his administration’s unwavering support for the military in tackling security challenges nationwide. He emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity and value of the armed forces, affirming their commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and eradicating poverty.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed gratitude to the President for hosting the lawmakers, highlighting the significance of regular interactions for fostering understanding and effective governance. He assured continued collaboration, underscoring the collective responsibility to ensure the success of the administration, given the shared leadership positions held by members of the National Assembly.
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