Politics

Nigeria’s Presidency denies alleged budget manipulations as legislators meet over claims

Published

10 months ago

March 11, 2024

Nigeria’s Presidency has denied allegations of manipulating the 2024 budget to the tune of an additional N3 trillion, a practice known as “budget padding” in the Nigerian political lexicon.

The denial follows allegations made by federal lawmaker, Senator Abdul Ningi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, that the administration was implementing a budget that was different from the one that was authorised on January 1, 2024.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Ningi, acting on behalf of the Northern Senators’ Forum, said that President Bola Tinubu’s Federal Government was operating on a budget that was much larger than what the NASS had approved.

The legislature claims that instead of the N28.7tn budget that is currently in effect, a N25tn budget was discussed and approved.

The Senate had announced that it would convene to discuss the issue on Tuesday, utilising its internal procedures and oversight framework.

The President’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, signed a statement on behalf of the Presidency, characterising Ningi’s assertions as “false” and stating that Tinubu had first submitted a N27.5tn budget to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.

Contrary to Ningi’s statements, it stated that this budget included N9.92 trillion for recurrent expenses, N8.25 trillion for debt payment, and N8.7 trillion for capital expenditures. The President highlighted how unlikely it was that the Senate would have discussed and approved a $25 trillion budget that was never made available.

“Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25 trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly.

“We don’t expect a ranking senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims.

“It is also important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on January 1, 2024, as passed by the National Assembly, was N28.7 trillion,” Onanuga insisted.

Related Topics:Budget Padding Featured Nigeria

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.