Senate recalls suspended Ningi
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Senate has recalled Senator Abdul Ningi who was suspended for three months for accusing the red chamber of budget padding.
The recall process was initiated on Tuesday after a motion moved by Deputy Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, who expressed regret on behalf of the suspended senator. He pledged to assume full responsibility for Ningi’s actions, acknowledging the gravity of the suspension.
Ningi was suspended on March 12, 2024.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the unconditional recall of Ningi after a brief plea by some lawmakers.
Akpabio emphasised the senator’s resourcefulness and described him as a valued member of the Senate, adding that the decision to recall Ningi transcends religious and ethnic divides.
The recall comes two weeks before the three-month suspension terminates on June 12, 2024.
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Ningi had alleged that the Federal Government was operating two versions of the 2024 budget and that the N28.7 trillion budget passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu was skewed against the north.
He claimed the Senate added N3.7 trillion to the budget and that Tinubu originally presented N25 trillion budget.
Ningi later denied making the statements when he was asked by his colleagues to explain what he meant.
Akpabio, who had described Ningi’s offences as “grievous”, conducted a voice vote during which most of the lawmakers voted in support of Ningi’s suspension for three months.