One of the famous Nigerian comedians, Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, has raised concerns about the contributions of Nigerian senators beyond the controversial practice of budget padding.
His remarks came amidst the ongoing controversies surrounding the alleged insertion of N3.7 trillion into the country’s 2024 budget.
Expressing his thoughts on the matter via his Instagram story, Basketmouth questioned the tangible contributions of the Nigerian Senate to the welfare of the masses beyond budget padding.
He wrote, “I have got a question, aside padding budgets, what else do our senators do? Like, what have they done in the past 50 years that favored the average Nigerian?”
The issue gained traction after Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, claimed in an interview last week that the sum of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget could not be accounted for in terms of allocated projects.
In response, the Senate, led by its president, Godswill Akpabio, took action during Tuesday’s plenary by suspending Ningi for three months.
In response to the query initiated by Basketmouth, Nigerians on social media platforms have echoed similar sentiments, expressing frustration over what they perceive as a disconnect between elected representatives and the needs of the populace.
Many have therefore called for greater transparency, accountability, and meaningful legislative action that directly benefits the lives of ordinary citizens.
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Recall that the Senate, on Tuesday, suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over the allegation that the 2024 appropriation bill was over- estimated to the tune of N3.7 trillion.
Ningii, from Bauchi Central and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population.
Ningi received his first political baptism when some northern senators disowned him, saying the Bauchi State senator did not speak for them.
The Bauchi senator, however, maintained his position that N3.7tn could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.
At the plenary on Tuesday, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) moved a motion that there is an urgent need to address the false claim by the embattled senator.
Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, later read the transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview on the floor of the house after Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a committee of the whole house.
Meanwhile, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim moved an amended motion for the suspension of Ningi for 12 months, while adding that Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South, NNPP) be warned to also desist from such inimical acts.
Senator Chris Ekpeyong (Akwa-Ibom North-West, PDP) opposed the motion with a counter motion of amendment that the suspension be reduced to six months, and it was seconded.
Another senator, Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), however made further amendments, asking that Ningi be suspended for three months.
After putting the amended motion to a voice vote, Akpabio ruled, “Senator Ningi is hereby suspended from the Senate for a period of three months.”
Immediately after the pronouncement was made, Ningi was led out of the floor of the Senate by one of the sergeants-at-arms.
