Senate President Godswill Akpabio and some of his colleagues have been accused of padding the budget by over N200 billion during the amendment of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act. The senators allegedly took advantage of President Bola Tinubu’s request for the appropriation of N500 billion for palliatives to heavily inflate the budget.
Budget padding refers to the act of increasing the budget beyond its original estimates by inflating the value of items or introducing new items. The Senate recently approved the President’s request to appropriate N500 billion for palliatives to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Sources claim that Senator Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and Senator Solomon Adeola were the major architects of the budget padding. Although some senators, including Chief Whip Ali Ndume, openly objected to the padding, it reportedly went ahead regardless.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters allegedly reveal how funds were allocated for various projects under the amended 2022 supplementary budget. Examples of the padding include the allocation of funds for the supply of tricycles (Keke NAPEP), construction of public buildings, rehabilitation and construction of roads, and construction of classrooms and healthcare centers in selected communities.
The accusation of budget padding raises concerns about transparency, accountability, and the efficient allocation of resources. It is ironic that President Tinubu had previously criticized Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara for budget padding when they were members of his party. The alleged budget padding by the senators highlights the need for stricter oversight and adherence to fiscal responsibility in Nigeria’s budgetary processes.
“This sum has been extracted from the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act of Eight Hundred and Nineteen Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eighth Hundred and Fifteen (819, 536, 937, 815.00) Naira only for the provision of Palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.”
“Finally, I believe that the proposal in this Supplementary Appropriation is laudable and will help cushion the suffering of the Citizens of this country owing to the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),” he had added.
“Akpabio and Adeola Yayi inserted over N200 billion into Tinubu’s palliative budget. They padded in more than N200 billion in the amended 2022 supplementary budget,” one of the sources in the Senate told SaharaReporters.
“Senator Ali Ndume and others opposed it vehemently. Many senators walked out but Senator Akpabio still went ahead and passed the fraud.
“Akpabio, Senator Jibrin Barau and Senator Adeola Yayi are the major architects of the budget padding,” another source said.
