The Northern Senators Forum has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and associates of padding the 2024 budget by N3 trillion. The forum plans to escalate the issue to President Bola Tinubu.
However, the Senate leadership has refuted the allegation, dismissing it as false. Abdul Ningi, the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, revealed on BBC Hausa Service that consultants commissioned by the forum discovered the alleged padding during a budget scrutiny exercise. Ningi stated that the Forum would soon present its findings to Akpabio.
Ningi highlighted the Forum's recent engagement of consultants to review the budget, emphasizing their meticulous examination of every line item. He expressed concern over the detrimental impact of the alleged padding on the nation, stressing the need for transparency in budgetary allocations.
The Forum intends to confront Akpabio with its findings and seek clarification on the undisclosed N3 trillion in the budget. Ningi questioned the absence of progress on key northern projects, such as the Ajaokuta project and the Mambila power project, despite budgetary allocations in previous years.
