Senate Speaks on ‘N500 Million Given’ to Senators for Constituency Projects

Fresh revelations emerged at the Senate plenary, on Tuesday, indicating that ranking senators got N500m each for their constituency projects in the   2024 budget passed by the National Assembly.

According to the Senate rules, any lawmaker who has spent at least a term in the House of Representatives or Senate,  is considered a ranking senator.

Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe (PDP, Cross-River North), during the debate of the motion on breach of privilege moved by Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC Ogun West) against Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) over Ningi’s interview with alleged that senior senators got N500m each.

Ningi was suspended for three months on Tuesday. He also resigned as the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum

Jarigbe’s revelation led to a rowdy session at the plenary with some senators denying collecting the amount.

However, when given another chance to speak, he clarified that it was Ningi who told him that some senators got N500m.

Jarigbe later clarified, in a TV interview that the money was for constituency projects, not for personal palliatives of the Senators.

Ningi, in the BBC interview on Friday, alleged that N3.7tn was not tied to specific projects in the 2024 budget.

Also, at a press conference on Monday, the senator insisted on the allegation, adding that he was not afraid of suspension.

Meanwhile, Senator Bamidele alleged that Ningi planned a coup against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.