Recent revelations have unveiled that the administration under President Bola Tinubu sanctioned a substantial fund of N2.5 billion aimed at facilitating empowerment initiatives within the constituency of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. These projects, intended to provide deep freezers, generators, and other essential items, are geared towards uplifting the residents of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
The disclosure came to light following a social media post by renowned critic, Mahdi Shehu, on the platform X. He shared a budget document indicating that the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs had allocated five separate empowerment programs, each valued at N500,000,000, specifically for the benefit of Akpabio’s constituency.
“N2.5BILLION APPROVED FOR AKPABIO TO BUY DEEP FREEZERS FOR HIS CONSTITUENCY: Wonders shall never end. Anyway, with Akpabio, anything and everything is possible, considering his past records, how he emerged as Senate president without being a candidate in an election. Disgusting,” Mahdi captioned the screenshot.
“EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN WITH DEEP FREEZERS, GENERATORS AND OTHER EMPOWERMENT ITEMS TO BOOST THEIR DAILY EARNING IN THE TWO (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTH WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT AT 250M EACH (IΚΟΝΟ & ABAK),” one of the projects reads,
During a recent session in the Senate, Senator Agom Jarigbe, representing the Cross River North Senatorial District, brought to light that select “senior” senators were allocated N500 million each from the 2024 budget. This disclosure was made amidst ongoing debates concerning accusations of budget manipulation brought forward by Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Ningi had accused the Senate’s leadership of inflating the 2024 budget by N3.7 trillion, pointing out that the National Assembly had approved a N25 trillion budget for the 2024 fiscal year. This figure starkly contrasts with the N28.7 trillion budget currently being executed by the federal government, a discrepancy that resulted in Senator Ningi’s suspension.
The allegations made by Senator Ningi have sparked widespread indignation among the Nigerian populace, with many directing their criticism towards Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Credit: Sahara Reporters