Senator Ningi clears self following allegation that President Tinubu is running two budgets 

Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi Central) has refuted claims on Monday in Abuja that he accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of operating two separate budgets for 2024.

Reports from BBC Hausa alleged that Ningi made the assertions during an interview with the British media outlet.

According to the reports, Ningi, speaking on behalf of the Northern Senators’ Forum, contended that the National Assembly passed a N25 trillion budget for 2024, and not the N28.7 trillion budget the Federal Government was implementing.

Ningi expressed his surprise and frustration with the misrepresentation of his remarks during a conversation with journalists on Monday. He emphasized that his statements were taken out of context, leading to a distortion of the facts.

“With the press release I saw in the media yesterday, I am taken aback.

“At no time did I say Bola Tinubu was implementing two budgets. There was no time. At no time did I say Bola Tinubu was biased against the north.

“At no time did I say Bola Tinubu is implementing a N25 trillion budget. There is no way I will talk about N25 trillion and N28 trillion,’’ he said.

The presidency responded to Ningi’s interview in Abuja on Sunday, dismissing his claims as unfortunate, especially given his status as a high-ranking senator.

“There is no truth whatsoever in the allegation made by Sen. Ningi that President Tinubu is operating two budgets for 2024,’’ Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated.

“Contrary to the strange view expressed by Sen. Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25 Trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly.

“We do not expect a ranking senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims.

“It is also important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on Jan. 1, 2024 as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7 trillion.

“The National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased the amount proposed by the Executive by N1.2 trillion.

“In the spirit of democracy which allows give and take, President Tinubu did not withhold his assent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly,’’ Onanuga added.