The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume has explained that as a principal officer in the 10th National Assembly, he received more than the N200m typically allocated to some of his colleagues and floor members for constituency projects.
He said this on Channels Television’s Politics on Wednesday.
Recall that Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe from Cross River North on Tuesday during a story session in Abuja, alleged that some senators got a total of N500 million each from the 2024 Budget for constituency projects.
Earlier, Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District had made a Budget padding claim.
Ningi had said N3.7trn was not tied to any project in the 2024 N28.7trn budget.
Agom-Jarigbe had alleged that some Senators are guilty of such practice, adding that some senior senators got N500 million each from the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Responding to the allegations, the Borno South Senatorial District Senator said “My colleagues know that I got more than them [floor members].
“All the senators have N200m (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference. 10 of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal…My colleagues know that I got more than them.
“It’s disparity now, we are not the same; all animals are equal but some are more equal than the other. That’s what the case is. They have agreed to that.
“That decision is taken by the senators. We have the senate budget committee before but now the floor members entrusted that to the presiding officers. That’s the difference. So, most of the senators don’t know what I get and I will not tell you.”
