Budget padding: ACF fumes over Ningi’s suspension

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum has expressed dismay over the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi over the alleged padding of the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.7tn by the Senate.
This was contained in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur-Baba, made it available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.
The Forum observed that rather than suspending the Senator representing Bauchi North, the red chamber should have allowed an independent investigation into the matter saying the process which culminated in Ningi’s suspension appeared rushed “looking more on the messenger rather than his message.”
Ningi had in an earlier interview made the allegation that culminated in his three-month suspension for what the Senate labelled an unfounded allegation.
According to the forum, with the suspension of Ningi, who had served as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum, the interests of many communities in the region are at stake.
The ACF noted that rather than taking a rushed suspension of Ningi, it preferred a thorough investigation of the allegation by a statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.
The statement was titled, ‘ACF regrets suspension of Senator Ningi from 10th Senate, calls for more open debates on issues.’
According to the forum, with the suspension of Ningi, who had served as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum, the interests of many communities in the region are at stake.