The Senator representing Delta North senatorial district in the red Chamber of the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko has confessed that he actually received more than N1 billion for constituency projects last year.
Nwoko, who spoke in an interview on Sunday mentioned that the allocation of resources to senators often varies based on the magnitude of their constituency projects, indicating that it’s not uncommon for some, including himself, to receive larger amounts.
This revelation is coming against the backdrop of the recent controversy of budget padding by Senator Abdul Ningi of the 2024 budget with an extra N3.7 trillion, a fund not tied to any extra project.
Although the Red Chamber denied any wrongdoing, some senators clarified the amount allocated for constituency projects in their districts.
Speaking on the developments, Nwoko made it clear that the allocated funds are for financing projects, not for personal reimbursement of individual senators.
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“Senators get what they lobby for, not because they have the right to it. Everybody just goes about doing what they can do for their constituencies and senatorial districts.
“A better approach would have been for senatorial uniformity. So if they say that everyone should get about N1 billion, be it. But this way, you rely on your weight and contacts to see what you can get for your people.
“We are not talking about money for the senators. This is for projects within our senatorial districts. If you have road, water, or training programmes all should aggregate to a particular amount.”
When asked whether the lawmaker gets as much as N1 billion in allocation, the senator replied:
“Of course, I did. That’s why I am who I am. But these are projects for my people.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that the Nigerian Senate had earlier come out to clarify that the ₦3 trillion alleged to be padded in 2024 budget was actually statutory transfers to first line charge agencies of government not domiciled in the ministries.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, offered the explanation, while speaking with journalists on the suspension of Sen. Abdul Ningi over alleged padding of 2024 budget.
Adaramodu said the 10th Senate needed to be treasured as pillar of democracy and would only do what would promote national interest