Nigerian Senate rejects budget padding allegation

The Nigerian Senate rejected claims from certain media outlets that it inflated the 2024 appropriation budget by more than N4 trillion.

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, responded to these allegations in a statement provided to Senate Correspondents.

Adaramodu questioned the motives of those spreading misinformation, given the transparent process through which the budget was scrutinized and approved by President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the budget document, which outlines projected revenue and expenses, was already public knowledge. Additionally, Adaramodu emphasized that the 10th Senate, under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, did not know any modified version of the budget.

The statement read: “There is no budget padding as far as the Senate and the National Assembly are concerned. The National budget is a public document that explicitly states the expected revenue and expenditure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Senate, under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, is not aware of any altered execution of the 2024 appropriation mandate, as approved.

“The budget presentation and approval processes were conducted in the public eye, and the Presidential assent was also part of a public ceremony.

“Any infractions would have been brought before the Senate, if any.

“The general public should rest assured that there is no budget padding anywhere, and we are confident that the 2024 appropriation law shall be strictly executed under strict legislative oversight.”