Budget padding allegation: Why Senate suspended Senator Ningi

The Nigerian Senate suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months due to his allegation that the Federal Government was operating two budgets.

This decision came after extensive debate on an amendment proposed by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to a motion raised by Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan.

Ningi had given an interview the previous Monday, claiming that N3.7 trillion couldn’t be accounted for in project expenditures.

The debate in the Senate led to various suggestions for the duration of Ningi’s suspension, ranging from one to six months.

Ultimately, the Senate President upheld a three-month suspension after putting the proposed durations to a voice vote, despite an initial recommendation for six months.