The Northern Senators Forum has distanced itself from the allegation of budget padding by Senator Abdul Ningi, adding that his view was personal sentiment, skewed, incorrect, and misleading.
A press statement signed by seven northern senators pointed out that there was never a time when they held a meeting and mandated Senator Ningi to address the press on the said matter.
They added that both chambers of the National Assembly diligently and meticulously debated, processed, and passed the proposal of the President and were satisfied with it
The group say the statement made by Senator Ningi that the 2024 budget presented to the National Assembly by President Tinubu in the sum of N25 trillion was not correct and should not be taken as the position of the Northern Senators Forum.
They stressed that there was no budget padding, whatsoever that was done to the 2024 budget.
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The statement further reads “We strongly and collectively dissociate ourselves from his action which was grossly unparliamentary”.
“We, the Northern Senators are solidly behind President Bola Tinubu and we will continue to support him to succeed in addressing the challenges facing our country Nigeria.
” And this particular moment does not need ethnic sentiments but collaborations of all to bring prosperity to our beloved country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We will continue to work with our brothers and sisters from the southern part of the country to move our country forward for the benefit of all and sundry”
(Editor Paul Akhagbemhe)