Budget: Sen. Ningi makes U-turn, says he was misquoted

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Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the Senate, said he was misquoted on comments on the 2024 National Budget.

Senator Ningi, who spoke with Senate correspondents on Monday, said however he is ready to carry his cross alone as Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

Ningi, who could face suspension from the Senate, said he never meant President Bola Tinubu is implementing two budgets or that he was biased against the North.

However, he clarified that he only stands by his utterance as a Senator and not the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

In a swift reaction, the Presidency had on Sunday described as false, a claim by Senator Ningi that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget.

According to a statement by a Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the senator’s claim that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 Budget is false, adding that N28.7 trillion was passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

The Presidency also described as “far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status”, the claim by Senator Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, that the 2024 Budget was anti-north.

Onanuga said the President is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria. He added that in terms of funding, distribution of capital and priority projects, the 2024 Appropriation Act was not skewed against any section of the country.