The Senate chamber witnessed a tumultuous session on Tuesday as senators engaged in heated debates over the uneven distribution of federal government palliatives meant for their constituents.
The uproar began during a debate on the allegation made by Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, in an interview with BBC Hausa, where he claimed that the 2024 budget was padded with N3.7 trillion.
As senators deliberated on Ningi’s allegation, Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe dropped a bombshell, revealing that while some senators received N500 million as palliatives and constituency projects, others were allocated only N200 million.
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He lamented that despite his status as a ranking senator, he did not receive any palliative for his constituents during the distribution.
He said: “All of us are culpable. Some so called Senior Senators here got 500 million Naira each from the 2024 Budget, I am a ranking Senator I didn’t get anything. No Senator has a right to accuse Senator Ningi.”
Jarigbe’s revelation sparked outrage among senators, leading to a chaotic scene in the chamber. Senate President Godswill Akpabio struggled to restore order amidst the shouting match that ensued.
After nearly 20 minutes of chaos, calm was eventually restored, allowing the debate over Ningi’s allegations to resume.
The revelation of the uneven distribution of palliatives has raised concerns about transparency and fairness in the allocation of resources meant for constituency projects.
The Senate is expected to address these issues and ensure equitable distribution of government funds to benefit all constituents.
