President Bola Tinubu, for the first time on Thursday, has reacted to the allegation of 2024 budget padding.
The contentious issue was brought to fore by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi state who claimed that the 2024 budget was padded.
According to the lawmaker, N3 trillion was inserted into the budget without allocation — one was signed by the Presidency and the other by the National Assembly.
Ningi was subsequently suspended by the Senate for the period of 3months.
But speaking on the issue, Tinubu said hi State those alleging malicious embellishment of the 2024 financial estimate don’t understand its arithmetic.
Speaking at a special Iftar with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and other senators at the State House, Abuja, the president said he knew the arithmetic of the numbers that he brought to the Senate, when he presented the 2024 budget and also knew what he got back, when it was passed.
“I know the arithmetic of the budget and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back. I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much.
“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget; they did not understand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.
“I am grateful for what you have been doing. The natural challenge we are facing will be over. On the current economic difficulty, we are about turning the corner.
The president, used the occasion to assure Nigerians that the current security and economic challenges facing the country would soon become a thing of the past, confident the nation would surmount her challenges.
“Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditure and manage ourselves better. Light is at the end of the tunnel, and Nigerians will soon smile again,” he added.
