How NASS members pad budgets – Shehu Sani explains meaning of ‘Budget Padding’

A former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has thrown more light on how members of the National Assembly pad Nigeria’s budgets.

budget padding scandal is currently rocking the National Assembly after Bauchi North senator, Abdul Ningi, claimed that about N3.7 trillion in the 2024 Appropriation Act was not tied to any project.

Although the Senate on Tuesday slammed Ningi with a three-month suspension over the allegation, the lawmaker has insisted that there are documents to back his claim.

While the issue continues to gain more attention from concerned Nigerians, Shehu Sani, in a post on his official X handle on Thursday, educated the public on what budget padding means, and how members of the National Assembly go about the act.

According to him, “Paddling budget means tampering with the budget presented by the President or the MDAs by either adding figures to the costs of projects or inserting projects that were not in the original budget.

“For example, a Minister can say he wants to buy 5 Buckets for his Ministry at 5k each; magically, he will see 8 Buckets approved for him or 5 Buckets approved at the rate of 10k each or he will see Shovels and diggers added to his request for Buckets.”