Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central, has tendered his resignation as the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum following his suspension by the Senate.
Ningi’s suspension on Tuesday came after he made allegations regarding the misappropriation of about N3.7 trillion in the budget for project implementation.
In response to the Senate’s decision to suspend him for three months, Ningi submitted his resignation letter, dated March 11, stating his decision to step down from his position as the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum.
In his resignation letter, Ningi expressed appreciation to the members of the forum for entrusting him with the leadership role for the past eight months.
He emphasized the importance of the forum for the progress and development of Northern Nigeria.
“I would like to resign my position as the Chairman of the Northern Senators forum. This is of course necessitated by unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North and the Nation at large.
“I would like to specially thank members of the forum for the opportunity given to me for the last eight (8) months to spearhead this very important forum. I believe this forum is very important and fundamental to the progress and development of Northern Nigeria,” Ningi added.
The Senate’s resolution to suspend Ningi followed a motion by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, who addressed Ningi’s allegations of budget padding in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
The Senate clarified that there was no evidence to support Ningi’s claims of budget padding and affirmed that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25 trillion, while the one being implemented by the Presidency stood at N28.7 trillion.
