Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and more than 75 allied civil society organisations, have demanded proper investigation into the allegation of budget padding raised by the 48-member Northern Senators Forum, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi.
The organisation called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the president of the Senate, Senator Akpabio to step aside pending the outcome of the investigation.
In a statement co-signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Comrade James Ezema, and the National Secretary of the coalition of CSOs, Alhaji Ali Abacha, the body also tasked President Tinubu to assist in bringing an end to the era of budget padding.
Senator Ningi had in a BBC Hausa interview, alleged that the budget version in operation is different from what the lawmakers passed in December 2023, revealing that he and other senators in the forum had engaged a consultant to investigate the padding of the budget.
The group lamented that the allegation was coming at a period Nigerians were going through severe challenges to survive, due to hyperinflation and other economic vagaries.
“Therefore, we believe that this alleged budget padding burden amid unprecedented hunger and deprivation in the country should reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has been a party that has in nearly nine years made the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s bad governance a child’s play.
“We, therefore, call on the President of the Senate to immediately step aside for a thorough investigation of the allegation of budget padding within 14 days.
“In an event that he remains in office, we call on all senators of good conscience to rise to the occasion to pave way for a unhindered investigation of the allegation .
“We therefore urge President Bola Tinubu to stand on his feet and end the era of budget padding in the country by prevailing on Senator Akpabio to leave office for proper investigation.
“So, if our demands are not met, we will have no choice than to mobilise our members, all other civil society organisations, human rights activists, opinion leaders, political parties, men and women of good will and conscience, and all hungry citizens to occupy the National Assembly until our demands are met,” the group stated.
