Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume has said that as a principal officer in the 10th National Assembly, he received more than the N200m allocation, which is the amount given to some of his colleagues and floor members for constituency projects in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said this on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.
The lawmaker was responding to allegations by Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe from Cross River North, who yesterday revealed that some senators got a total of N500 million each from the 2024 Budget for constituency projects.
He said, “My colleagues know that I got more than them [floor members].
“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…My colleagues know that I go more than them.”
Senator Agom-Jarigbe had on Tuesday, during a story session in Abuja, made the startling disclosure while the lawmakers debated budget padding claims by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
Ningi had said N3.7trn was not tied to any project in the 2024 N28.7trn budget.
Agom-Jarigbe had alleged that some Senators are guilty of such practice, adding that some senior senators got N500 million each from the 2024 Appropriation Act.
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 of the senators don’t know what I get and I will not tell you.”