The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to probe the allegations of budget padding by some northern senators. The party said the scandal, which involves inflating the 2024 national budget by N3 trillion, is a serious threat to the nation’s fiscal integrity and development.

A shocking revelation

The PRP’s statement came after Senator Abdul Ningi, the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, revealed in a BBC Hausa interview that some of his colleagues had tampered with the budget to the detriment of the north and the entire country. However, he said the northern senators had consulted with experts to review the 2024 budget and found out that it had been manipulated to include projects and expenditures that were not in the original proposal.

Ningi said the budget padding had caused “huge damage” to the nation’s financial plan and called for an urgent correction. He also accused the executive branch of being complicit in the fraud and failing to protect the interests of the people.

A call for action

The PRP, in a statement by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, expressed its deep concerns over the potential repercussions of the budget padding. The party said the act, if true, represents gross misconduct and a blatant disregard for the principles of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.

“We strongly believe that parliament must stand up to its statutory and constitutional responsibility of factual appropriation and funding by the provisions of the budget office and that public funds must be utilized judiciously and for the sole purpose of advancing the interests of the citizens,” Ishaq said.

The PRP also urged the National Assembly to fulfill its constitutional duties by ensuring that the budget is rigorously examined and truly reflects the nation’s best interests. The party reminded the elected officials that their primary duty is to serve the people with integrity and honesty.

A hope for justice

The PRP appealed to all Nigerians to join them in condemning the budget padding and demanding that those responsible be held accountable. Also, the party said it is committed to good governance, the fight against corruption, and the promise of democracy for every Nigerian.

The party also expressed its hope that President Tinubu, who presented the N27.5 trillion budget to a joint session of the National Assembly in November, would not sweep the matter under the carpet but rather take decisive action to restore the confidence of the people in his administration.

Finally, the party said it expects Tinubu to demonstrate his leadership and vision by investigating and punishing those behind the scandal, as well as revising the budget to reflect the true needs and aspirations of the nation.

Source: Vanguard