Alleged Budget Padding: ACF Condemns Ningi’s Suspension, Says North’s Interest At Stake

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has criticized the Senate's decision to suspend Sen. Abdul Ninigi, the immediate past Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, asserting that the interests of the North are in jeopardy.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, explained that the Senate ought to have investigated the issues raised by the senator to establish the veracity of his claims instead of the suspension.

It urged the Senate to act with more circumspection in dealing with criticisms of its operations.

Ningi had alleged that N3.7 trillion was not attached to any specific project in the 2024 budget passed for implementation.

ACF noted that the allegation has since been denied by the 10th Senate as lacking in veracity, stressing that the interests of many communities in Northern Nigeria are at stake.

It said rather than the route of a rushed suspension of Ningi, ACF prefers a thorough investigation of the allegation by a statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.

It said the allegation of padding, as well as those related to the inclusion of items that benefit specific communities of some senators as “constituency projects”, stand unaddressed with all attendant negative implications for the Red Chamber and the executive.