Crisis brewing in Senate as lawmakers clash over N50bn constituency fund
- There is an alleged disagreement in the Senate over the additional N50 billion earmarked for constituency projects
- It was gathered that some senators were allegedly marginalised in the allocations of the funds
- The allegedly marginalised senators are reportedly threatening to petition President Buhari not to sign the budget into law
The relative peace and unity witnessed in the ninth Senate is set to witness a big test as some lawmakers are alleging marginalisation in the allocation of constituency project funds.
The Sun reports that the disquiet started when a document showing that about 15 senators who occupy principal positions got a bigger share of the additional N50 billion earmarked for constituency projects in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Another point of disagreement among the senators is that the 2020 budget was allegedly padded with other projects by some undisclosed lawmakers.
The newspaper reports that the fund released for the projects is different from the statutory N100 billion captured in the 2020 budget.
Legit.ng gathers that while some lawmakers got over N1 billion to fund constituency projects, others did not get a dime.
One of the lawmakers who asked not to named said the document showing how the funds were allocated was leaked by some staff of the National Assembly.
It was gathered that the allegedly marginalised senators were threatening to petition President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the budget into law.
PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) accused the federal lawmakers of converting billions of naira listed in the budget as constituency project provisions to personal use.
The ICPC alleged that there are at least two major ways federal lawmakers divert funds.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better
Nigeria News: Should the Nigerian senate be scrapped? - on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
