During Tuesday’s plenary session, the Senate took the decision to suspend Senator Abdul Ningi, the representative of Bauchi Central in the National Assembly, for a period of three months from all legislative duties.
The suspension came amidst allegations of budget padding for the year 2024.
Ningi, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), faced the suspension following a motion moved by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who accused Ningi of criminal misinformation and breach of peace within the National Assembly and the country at large.
Initially, Senator Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension, but other lawmakers, including Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong and Musa Dani, called for an amendment to reduce the duration of the suspension to six months.
Eventually, it was resolved to suspend Ningi for three months without pay.
The decision to suspend Ningi came in the wake of his interview with the BBC Hausa Service where he alleged that the National Assembly had padded the 2024 budget with N3.7 trillion.
He further claimed discrepancies between the budget passed by the National Assembly, reported at N25 trillion, and the one being implemented by the Presidency, purportedly at N28.7 trillion.
Following the suspension, Senator Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by the Sergeants-at-arm.
In another news,Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi, has stepped down from his position as the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum following his suspension by the Nigerian Senate over allegations of budget padding.
Ningi’s resignation, communicated through a personally signed letter addressed to the forum secretary, cited unfolding events in the National Assembly, the north, and Nigeria at large as the basis for his decision.
In the letter, Ningi expressed gratitude to the forum members for the opportunity to lead the forum for the past eight months, emphasizing the importance of the forum in advancing the progress of northern Nigeria.
“I will like to resign as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum. This is, of course, necessitated by unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North, and the Nation at large.
“I will like to specially thank members of the forum for the opportunity given to me for the last eight months to spearhead this very important forum.
“I believe this forum is very important and fundamental to the progress of northern Nigeria.”
Ningi’s resignation comes after his suspension by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, stemming from remarks made during an interview with the BBC Hausa service.
In the interview, Ningi alleged budget padding in the 2024 budget and discrepancies between the budget passed by the National Assembly and the one implemented by the Presidency.
His remarks sparked controversy and led to his suspension, marking a turbulent period for the Bauchi Central Senator and the Northern Senators Forum.
