CISLAC express concern over Senator Ningi’s suspension

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed concerns over the decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Abdul Ningi.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director of CISLAC Auwal Ibrahim Musa and made available to journalists in Kaduna, yesterday, he questioned the obedience of the Senate to constitutional rights.
The statement referred to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a supreme law of the country which gives zero provision or power to the Senate to suspend a Member of the National Assembly.
The Director opined that the actions taken by the Senate are undemocratic and questionable, adding that he worries that legislators will no longer be allowed to perform their duties which include checking the activities of the executive and principal officers in the Senate.
“We are not unaware that the suspension was initiated against Senator Ningi for expressing his constitutionally guaranteed concerns and observations on the 2024 budget at this critical moment when the nation is deeply soaked in socio-economic and financial crisis.
“The suspension is not unconnected with the public exposure of the N3 trillion padded into the 2024 budget by the Upper Chamber, which has hitherto failed to display transparency and public accountability in its annual budgetary allocation and spending.”