- By Halimah Olamide
There was confusion in the Upper chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday as senators debated the controversial allegation by one of the members, Senator Abdul Ningi.
Senator Ningi had, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn
For some moment, the senate President, Godswill Akpabio lost control of the chamber as members charged at one another with some almost appearing to want to exchanges punches.
Even when Akpabio invoked an order of the chamber saying he wanted to take control, he was ignored for some more minutes.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1767535965336150224As at the time of filing this report, the senators were still in a rowdy session even when the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion for the sitting of the chamber to be extended beyond 2pm for the business of the day.
When order was restored, Akpabio called on a member, Senator Kawu Samaila to query him over the propriety or otherwise of post on his facebook page where he had said that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, two budgets were being operated – the one passed by the senate and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one being operated by the Presidency.
The senate president had insisted that Kawu read his post again to members of the senate
Kawu, in his defence had said that his post was meant for the consumption of Northern senators and not for a general consumption.
He had said that his post was a result of an interview that Ningi granted to the BBC Hausa service.
Speaking during the debate, Jimoh Ibrahim (APC Ondo South) said the whole budget padding allegation is a stain on the integrity of the senate adding that the world would ask Akpabio about the integrity of the senate.
Another member Ali Ndume, pleaded for understanding saying that Ningi was wrong in his allegation.
Ndume also said that Ningi would apologise for his error adding that the senate should move on.
Senator Adam Oshiomole (APC Edo North) while contributing to the debate condemned the North-South dichotomy in the business of the senate adding that he got to the senate not because he had resources but because he had integrity.
He said Ningi had lied on the presentation of a wrong figure of the budget asking him that he should be courageous enough to own up and apologise.
He said Kawu was wrong to say what he posted was for Northern senators adding that he has responsibility to tell Northern senators the truth.
“Each time we try to destroy any of us, we are destroying all of us,” Oshiomhole said
Oshiomhole said the minimum requirement is that both Ningi and Kawu should tender apology having presented a wrong impression of the senate to the outside world.
He said by November this year Akpabio would attend an international forum in Geneva where he could be asked which budget is being operated in his country – the one passed by the senate or the one being operated by the Presidency.
More details later….