Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the allocation of funds to lawmakers for constituency projects within their respective senatorial districts.
Ndume’s comments come in response to allegations made by Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe from Cross River North, who claimed that some senators received approximately N500 million each from the 2024 budget for constituency projects.
During a session in Abuja on Tuesday, Agom-Jarigbe made this revelation amidst discussions regarding budget padding allegations raised by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
In an interview with ChannelsTV on Wednesday, Ndume disclosed that he and other leaders of the 10th Senate received more than the N200 million allocation allocated to his colleagues and floor members for constituency projects in the 2024 budget.
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“My colleagues know that I go more than them (floor members). All the senators have N200 million (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference,” Ndume announced.
“Ten of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal… My colleagues know that I go more than them,” he added.
When asked whether the claim by Agom-Jarigbe was true, Ndume said: “It’s disparity now, we are not the same; all animals are equal but some are more equal than the other. That’s what the case is. They have agreed to that.
“All the senators have N200m (each) as their constituency projects, but I am a leader. That is the difference. 10 of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal.”
“That decision is taken by the senators. We have the senate budget committee before but now the floor members entrusted that to the presiding officers. That’s the difference. So, most the senators don’t know what I get and I will not tell you,” he added.
The current leaders of the 10th Senate include:
- Godswill Akpabio – Senate President
- Jibrin Barau – Deputy Senate President
- Opeyemi Bamidele – Senate Majority Leader
- Oyelola Yisa Ashiru – Deputy Majority Leader
- Ali Ndume – Chief Whip
- Lola Ashiru – Deputy Whip
- Abba Moro – Minority Leader
- Kamorudeen Olarere – Deputy Minority Leader
- Darlington Nwokeocha – Senate Minority Whip
- Rufai Hanga – Deputy Minority Whip
