Ndume, however, refused to disclose what he got for his constituency project from the 2024 Appropriation Act
By Kehinde Okeowo
Senate Chief Whip and senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume has corroborated allegation levelled by his counterpart from Cross River North, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.
According to him, as a principal officer in the 10th National Assembly, he received more than the N200m allocation, which is the amount given to some of his colleagues for constituency projects in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Ndume made this known on Wednesday, while featuring on Channels Television’s programme ‘Politics Today’
Senator Agom-Jarigbe had on Tuesday, during a stormy session in the house revealed that some senators got more allocations than the others from the 2024 Budget for constituency projects.
He made the startling disclosure while the lawmakers debated budget padding claims by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
Ningi had claimed N3.7trn was not tied to any project in the 2024 N28.7trn budget.
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Agom-Jarigbe while speaking on the matter alleged that some senators are guilty of such practice, adding that some ranking members and principal officers of the senate got N500 million each from the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Reacting to the claim, Ndume said, “My colleagues know that I go 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.”
Speaking further on Agom-Jarigbe’s allegation, the Borno senator insisted he was not going to disclose how much he got.
He added, “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.
“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.
“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.”