Ali Ndume, the Senate Chief Whip, responded to the controversy over the allocation of funds for constituency projects in different senatorial districts.
Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe from Cross River North accused some senators of receiving around N500 million each from the 2024 budget for constituency projects.
During a discussion in Abuja on Tuesday, Agom-Jarigbe revealed this information while the lawmakers were debating budget padding allegations made by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
Speaking to ChannelsTV on Wednesday, Ndume admitted that he and other leaders of the 10th Senate received more than the N200 million allocation given to his colleagues and other members for constituency projects in the 2024 budget.
“My colleagues know that I go more than them (floor members). All the senators have N200 million (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference,” Ndume announced.
“Ten 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,” he added.
Checks revealed that the current leaders of the 10th Senate are:
Godswill Akpabio – Senate President
Jibrin Barau – Deputy Senate President
Opeyemi Bamidele – Senate Majority Leader
Oyelola Yisa Ashiru – Deputy Majority Leader
Ali Ndume – Chief Whip
Lola Ashiru – Deputy Whip
Abba Moro – Minority Leader
Kamorudeen Olarere – Deputy Minority Leader
Darlington Nwokeocha – Senate Minority Whip
Rufai Hanga – Deputy Minority Whip
When 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 the senators don’t know what I get and I will not tell you,” he added.
