No disparity in 2024 budget — Minister insists

By Matthew Denis, Abuja

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu has declared that there is no disparity in the 2024 budget.

The Minister made the disclosure while responding to the budget padding allegations levelled by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District of Bauchi State while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

Recall that Senator Abdul Ningi revealed that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion, adding that there were two versions of the budget.

Ningi was reported to have made the claim in a BBC Hausa Service interview during the weekend while led to his three months suspension by the Red chamber of the National Assembly.

The Minister stressed that the Constitution necessitates that the president submit budget proposal to the National Assembly.

He emphasised that the national assembly had the last word in terms of appropriation with regards the budget.

“There can be no appropriation without addition, subtraction or agreement to the one presented. The national assembly deemed it fit to increase the budget from N25.5 trillion presented by the president to 28.7 trillion which is what the president is working with.”

Bagudu noted that President Bola Tinubu submitted a budget of N25.2 trillion whereas, the National Assembly upgraded the budget to N28.7 trillion.