DAILY GIST reports that Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central had stirred commotion when he alleged in an interview that “huge damage” has been done to the entire country through the budget.
Ningi claimed that the Nigerian government is 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.
The suspended Senator insisted on Tuesday that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion, saying he had documents to prove his claim.
Below are some facts you probably don’t know about Ningi:
1. Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi was born in Bauchi, Nigeria on 20 April, 1960 (age 63).
2. He attended Ningi East Primary School (1969–1973).
3. He went to Government Secondary School, Misau, in 1978.
4. He enrolled at the Bauchi College of Art and Sciences for a 2-year pre-degree program.
5. He earned his B.Sc. in Sociology from Ahmadu Bello University in 1983, becoming the first in his family to attend university.
6. Abdul Ningi and his wife were married in 1982, and live in Ningi, Bauchi. They have five children.
7. In 1996, Abdul Ningi contested for the Bauchi State assembly under the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and won, but the Abacha-led government canceled the election.
8. In 2008, the appeal court reinstated Abdul Ningi as the rightful winner of the April 2007 elections.
9. He served as Chairman Ad-hoc committee on Niger delta crisis, where his input helped in developing the Amnesty program that resolved the Niger Delta militancy.
10. Today, 12th March, 2024, the Senate suspended Senator Abdul Ningi over allegations of N3.7 trillion padding of the 2024 budget.
11. A few hours after his suspension, Senator Abdul Ningi resigned as the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum
