Senator Ningi Resumes Plenary After Three Months Suspension

Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central has returned to his duties in the upper chamber of the legislature following a three-month suspension.

In March, he faced suspension due to allegations of budget padding. However, on Tuesday, Ningi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a senator, was spotted at the National Assembly in Abuja arriving in his black Toyota Landcruiser Jeep.

As he approached the NASS gate, he paused briefly to greet journalists who were present to welcome his return. Thank you very much to the members of the press, expressed the enthusiastic lawmaker. I have received all your messages.

The senator expressed great satisfaction when questioned about his time off.

On May 28, the senator was recalled following a process initiated by Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, who expressed remorse on behalf of the suspended lawmaker.

Moro took full responsibility for Ningi’s actions and acknowledged the seriousness of the suspension. The senator’s behavior during the suspension period has been a topic of discussion and analysis within the legislative body.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced Ningi’s unconditional recall after a brief plea from some lawmakers. Akpabio praised Ningi’s capabilities and referred to him as a valuable member of the Senate, emphasizing that his recall decision transcends religious and ethnic boundaries. Ningi was recalled just two weeks before his three-month suspension was scheduled to end on June 12, 2024.

Ningi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, was suspended by the Senate on March 12, 2024. The suspension was related to an allegation of padding the 2024 Budget by N3.7 trillion. Following a heated debate in the Senate, Akpabio led a voice vote where the majority of lawmakers supported Ningi’s three-month suspension due to what he described as serious offenses committed by Ningi.

During an interview, Ningi alleged that there were two versions of the 2024 budget being implemented by the Federal Government, stating that the N28.7 trillion budget approved and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu was unfairly biased against the North.

This led to strong criticism from several Senators and the presidency, who dismissed Ningi’s claims as unrealistic and inappropriate for someone of his stature.

Despite initially suggesting that two budgets were in operation, Ningi later clarified that only N25 trillion of the budget was allocated to specific projects, while N3.7 trillion had no project allocations.