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‘All Animals Are Not Equal’, Ndume Says He Got Over N200m For Constituency Projects
Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume claims that he received more money for constituency projects in the 2024 Appropriations Act as a principal officer in the 10th National Assembly than his colleagues and floor members did.
On Channels Television's Politics Today programme on Wednesday, the Borno South Senatorial District senator stated, "My colleagues know that I go more than them (floor members)."
"I am a leader, but each senator has N200 million for their constituency projects. The distinction is that. Including the opposition, ten of us are leaders. Not just the floor members are given to us. It is typical. I go above and beyond what my coworkers do.Today's #Politics photograph.twitter.com/edKiB4qgbZ
In response to claims made by Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe of Cross River North, Ndume stated that certain senators received N500 million apiece from the 2024 Budget for projects related to their constituencies.
While the lawmakers were debating budget padding claims made by Senator Abdul Ningi of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District on Tuesday, Agom-Jarigbe made the shocking revelation during a story session in Abuja.
After Ningi claimed that N3.7 trillion was unrelated to any project in the N28.7 trillion budget for 2024, he was suspended for three months.
According to Agom-Jarigbe, certain senators engage in this kind of behaviour. She also mentioned that a few senior senators received N500 million each from the 2024 Appropriations Act.
Ndume responded, "It's disparity now, we are not the same; all animals are equal but some are more equal than the other," when asked if Agom-Jarigbe's assertion was accurate. That is the actual situation. That is what they have consented to.
"As their constituency projects, each senator has N200 million, but I am the leader. That's the distinction. Ten of us, including the opposition, are leaders. Beyond the floor members, we receive more. It's typical.
"The senators make that decision. The Senate Budget Committee used to exist, but the floor members have since given that responsibility to the presiding officers. The distinction is that. Thus, I won't tell you what I get, and the majority of senators are unaware of it.