The Senate has recalled the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, after two months and two weeks of his three-month suspension over his interview in which he alleged padding of the 2024 ₦28.7 trillion budget.
The lawmaker was suspended on March 12, 2023, for three months, but the Senate on Tuesday unanimously resolved to recall their colleague from suspension.
Senator Olamilekan Adeola had invoked Orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service).
In the interview, Ningi alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is ₦25 trillion, while the one being implemented by the Presidency is ₦28.7 trillion.
The motion for the unconditional recall of Ningi was sponsored by Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, Senator Olalere Oyewumi, and Senator Osita Ngwu.
While presenting the motion, Senator Moro recalled, “On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, this revered 10th Senate in plenary suspended the former Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, for three months following a media interview he granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service on March 9, 2024, in which he alleged that about ₦3.7 trillion, representing over 10% of the 2024 budget, was illegally inserted into the 2024 national budget.”
He further explained that Ningi was asked to address his allegation of budget padding against the National Assembly, following a motion of urgent national importance moved by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
He said, “Failing to address the allegation, the Senate resolved to suspend Ningi for three months for violating legislative rules, misconduct, and unethical behaviour for the interview he granted on BBC Media regarding the 2024 Appropriation Act, legislation whose process he was part of.
“Aware that the said Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, being under suspension, has spent over two months outside the precincts of the National Assembly Complex and needs to return to continue with his legislative activities as the Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
“Flowing from the above, the Senate Minority Leadership takes full responsibility for the actions of our colleague Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and apologises on his behalf.”
Accordingly, the Senate resolved to reconsider the additional resolution of the Senate (from the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, March 13, 2024) to recall Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi to the Senate as the Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.