The Northern senators Forum has raised issues over the discrepancy between the budget approved by the Nigerian Senate and the budget being implemented
Senator Ningi who spoke on behalf of the forum on Saturday in a BBC Hausa program monitored in Abuja emphasized that the particular case is the most significant instance of budget padding to occur in Nigerian history under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

He stated, “For the first time in Nigerian history, we are currently operating with two distinct budgets. The National Assembly approved a budget of ₦25 trillion, whereas the Federal Government is operating with a budget of ₦28 trillion.”

“Apparently, we have discovered that ₦3 trillion has been inserted into the budgets without any specified allocations.”

“As representatives of the people, we have resolved to meet with President Tinubu to address this matter and present him with the facts and figures. We intend to ascertain whether he is aware of this embarrassing situation and take appropriate action thereafter.”

“Let the Nigerian people exercise patience with us. This is a national issue that affects all Nigerians, regardless of political party, ethnicity, or religion,” he added.

Recall however, that the N27.5trn ‘Renewed Hope’ budget for 2024 passed second reading at the Senate.

It has since been referred to the Committee on Appropriations after a voice vote by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session.

The Committee is Chaired by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC Ogun West).
Speaking on the matter Senator Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North) said “I don’t have the knowledge of such a report or rumor. Until they bring it to our knowledge we can now know the truth.

“I heard the northern Senators hired a consultant to look into the budget. But we have not done that. The Igbos or Southeast has not done so. So, if they comment is because they have a consultant, or a consultant-review of the budget

“For us we don’t have a consultant and we have not reviewed the budget yet.”

President Bola Ahmad Tinubu will assent to the 2024 Appropriation Bill on Sunday, the chairman senate committee on Appropriation, Senator Adeola Olamilekan has assured Nigerians
He spoke shortly after the Senate approved the sum of N28.7 trillion as the 2024 appropriation bill.

The Senate, at plenary on Saturday afternoon, passed the N28,777,404,073,861 budget, which it increased by about N1.2tn. The President presented N27.5tn to the joint chambers of the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.

While trying justify the passage in one day when asked about whether the President was privy to the content, he said,

“Before now you are aware that what we are experiencing was due to the lateness in the presentation of the budget and since that day we had gone to work and today we have passed the budget.
“The President will pass the budget before the first of January. All machinery has been put to work and there is no law that said the President cannot sign the budget on Sunday and the budget can be signed anywhere provided that it is a place that is recognized by law and is Federal Republic of Nigeria
“I want to assure you that this document called budget that we just passed we worked closely with the executive, it was not done in isolation, the executive was involved with us everyday, that is the minister for budget and national planning. “Any grey areas that needs attention he was available to share his own opinion and we share our own opinion, that was the kind of harmonious working relationship that we had.”

The Senate Committee on Culture and Creative Economy has made a case for appropriation of N10 billion for Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy for the construction of National Monuments in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

Chairman of the Committee, Sen.Ogoshi Onawo made the appeal, while presenting reports of the budget defence of MDAs under the committee to the Appropriations Committee in Abuja on Tuesday.

Onawo, listed the proposed monuments to include the National Museum, National Gallery and National Theatre.

He said the new Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy was a new ministry that will be an alternative revenue generator along oil revenue, given its potential to drive revenue generation and improve the nation’s economy. He said the ministry has already developed a road map on what was needed to be done to further grow the nation’s economy.

He urged the Appropriation Committee to support the ministry and its agencies to drive its plans and programmes of further growth of the economy.

He said the monuments, when established would create employment and revenue generation.

He explained that the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee had taken over the renovation of the National Theatre Iganmu Lagos, to make it more fitting and productive for revenue generation.

He said on completion, the theatre would be capable of generating N500 million for the nation.

According to him, arrangement has been concluded for the renovation, saying that it would be operated for a period of time and finally handed over back to the Federal Government.

Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Sen.Solomon Adeola, said the ministry would need a Special Intervention fund to productively drive the intents and purpose of the ministry.

Adeola said the envelope budget given to the ministry could only cater for its day to day activities, while urging the ministry to draw up a feasibile plans realising a creative economy via the ministry’s activities.

He urged the ministry to encourage and partner the private sector players in its quest to execute its plans for a creative economy, saying, that senate would partner and support where necessary.

Other committees that presented their reports of 2024 budget defence of MDAs to the Appropriations Committee included the Agricultural, Trade and Investment, Anti Corruption, Establishment and Public Service committees among others.