Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District in Nigeria’s parliament, has shed light on the alleged receipt of N500 million by senior-ranking senators from the 2024 budget. Contrary to Senator Agom Jarigbe’s claim that each senior senator received this amount, Senator Abaribe clarified that he personally only received N266 million.
A noteworthy point is that senators who have completed at least four years of service are recognized as ranking members. The topic regarding budget inflation was brought to attention by Senator Abdul Ningi, alleging the Senate’s inclusion of an extra N3.7 trillion in the initial budget.
Senator Abaribe responded to the accusation on Arise Television, stating that Senator Ningi should refrain from making unproven claims. He denied receiving N500 million as asserted by Senator Jarigbe and set the record straight saying he only received N266 million despite being a senior senator.
In addition, Senator Abaribe drew attention to the allocation of funds for Zonal Intervention Projects among senators. He disclosed that he obtained N266 million from this fund designated for lawmakers in the six geopolitical zones. Moreover, he elaborated on how the distribution differs depending on each zone’s state count; consequently, senators hailing from regions with fewer states receive more than those representing areas such as Northwest which has seven states and subsequently garners a smaller sum comparatively.
It was emphasized by Senator Abaribe that funds received by senators vary based on the number of states in their respective zones. He highlighted accountability as crucial, and suggested that constituents should hold their representatives responsible if they are unable to observe budgeted funds being used for public good.
To sum up, Senator Abaribe’s statement clears the air on how much he obtained from Zonal Intervention Project funds and rectifies any misunderstandings regarding reports that top senators received N500 million. This emphasizes the importance of honesty and responsibility when using public resources for projects in constituencies.
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