The Presidency has issued a formal response to allegations made by Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi, regarding the 2024 Appropriation Act, dismissing them as unsubstantiated claims. In a statement titled “THE FACTS ABOUT 2024 BUDGET,” issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency clarified its position on the matter.
The statement refuted claims that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration operated two versions of the 2024 budget. It emphasized that the National Assembly, exercising its authority, increased the proposed N27.5 trillion budget to N28.7 trillion, a move that the President duly assented to. The Presidency stressed that there was no truth to Senator Ningi’s assertion that the budget passed by the National Assembly was different from the one presented by President Tinubu.
Furthermore, the statement highlighted the equitable distribution of resources in the 2024 Appropriation Act, emphasizing that the budget was not biased against any region of the country. It commended Senators Yemi Adaramodu, Steve Sunday Karimi, Titus Tartenger Zam, and Kaka Sheu for their efforts in setting the record straight and refuting the misrepresentation of facts by Senator Ningi.
The Presidency reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to the rule of law and constitutional democracy, stating that he would not engage in any unconstitutional actions or operate a budget outside the one approved by the National Assembly.
In conclusion, the statement reiterated that the only 2024 budget being implemented is the N28.7 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President, which includes statutory transfers to various sectors such as the Judiciary, National Assembly, and Tetfund.