Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, expressed deep concern on Tuesday over the budget padding allegations currently engulfing the Senate, likening the situation to the exposure of the Senate’s vulnerabilities in the public domain.
Oshiomhole conveyed his dismay on the Senate floor during the discussion on the N3.7 trillion budget controversy raised by Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi.
Ningi, who serves as the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, asserted that the National Assembly had deliberated and approved a 2024 budget of N25 trillion, contrary to the N28.7 trillion being implemented by the Federal Government. He made these claims in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service.
Addressing the issue, Oshiomhole remarked, “We find ourselves exposed and vulnerable in the public eye, and we cannot simply dismiss it as inconsequential.”
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Recognising Ningi’s contributions to the Senate, Oshiomhole urged him to rectify the situation, stating, “He has made credible contributions in this Senate, so I believe he can address this by acknowledging that something went wrong.”
Challenging the conflicting figures, Oshiomhole emphasised, “What was the approved figure in the Appropriation Bill? Someone stated N28 billion, therefore, any assertion that it was N25 billion is unequivocally false.”
Highlighting the challenges of defending misinformation, Oshiomhole cautioned, “The problem of trying to defend a lie is that you have to stick to more lies to defend lies. Ningi has a duty to his children not to be the man reported in the media as conveying false information.”
As the controversy surrounding the budget unfolds, the Senate faces increased scrutiny, with Oshiomhole’s remarks shedding light on the gravity of the situation.
