A new report has surfaced detailing how the Nigerian government, under Chief Bola Tinubu, sanctioned the allocation of N2.5 billion to Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the procurement of deep freezers, generators, and various other items designated as empowerment projects for his constituency. ‘
A screenshot of the budget, disclosed by prominent social media critic Mahdi Shehu on X platform, reveals that the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs included five distinct empowerment initiatives for the constituents of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, each amounting to N500 million.
“N2.5BILLION APPROVED FOR AKPABIO TO BUY DEEP FREEZERS FOR HIS CONSTITUENCY: Wonders shall never end. Anyway, with Akpabio, anything and everything is possible, considering his past records, how he emerged as Senate president without being a candidate in an election. Disgusting,” Mahdi captioned the screenshot.
“EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN WITH DEEP FREEZERS, GENERATORS AND OTHER EMPOWERMENT ITEMS TO BOOST THEIR DAILY EARNING IN THE TWO (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTH WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT AT 250M EACH (IΚΟΝΟ & ABAK),” one of the projects reads.
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Meanwhile, Senator Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North Senatorial District, disclosed on Tuesday that certain “senior” senators received N500 million each from the 2024 budget.
Senator Jarigbe made this revelation during a Senate session on Tuesday, amidst controversy sparked by budget padding allegations made by Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ningi claimed that the Senate leadership inflated the 2024 budget by N3.7 trillion, asserting that the National Assembly approved a budget of N25 trillion for the fiscal year.
The lawmaker highlighted the disparity between the approved budget and the N28.7 trillion being executed by the federal government, resulting in the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi.
Senator Ningi’s allegations provoked public outrage, with many Nigerians criticizing Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
