Amidst the controversy in the senate concerning allocations for constituency projects, Senator Ned Nwoko has disclosed that he attracted about 1 billion naira for his constituency.
Recall, the senator representing Bauchi central, Abdul Ningi, had accused the senate of padding the budget by 3 trillion naira.
This had prompted Jarigbe Jarigbe, a lawmaker representing Cross River north, to allege that some senators got about N500M for constituency projects while others like himself got lower.
While the debate has continued across board with some, like senator Ali Ndume attesting that principal officers got more than others, the figures have remained shrouded.
In an appearance on the Mic On podcast however, Senator Ned Nwoko answered that he’d received about N1 billion. Host Seun Okinbaloye had prodded him till he eventually affirmed his postulations.
Nwoko also advocated for the closing of domiciliary accounts in the country and converting the funds to naira to grow the economy and stabilize the currency.
The Senator also reiterated his agenda for Nigerians to have the right to bear arms and defend themselves.
He said:
“He (Sen. Ningi) has been suspended but there is a provisor that if he writes and apologizes, he could be recalled if he admits his wrongs.”
“I think we (members of the Senate) ought to have set up a committee to try and edify those projects, know exactly what happened, whether what Ningi is saying is true or not. That’s something we ought to have done.”
“I believe that the way things are done currently, especially the last two budgets, including the supplementary budget of last year (2023) were not done properly.”
“I would have preferred a situation where we all know what we are getting for our constituency. You don’t need to lobby for it. Every one of the 109 senators should know from the outset, what is going to their particular districts.”
“My proposal is that there should be one such training (shooting range schools) in every senatorial district and they should be owned and run by retired military guards who are familiar with guns.”
“What my bill seeks to do is to give the opportunity to those (Nigerians) who want to have guns to have them.”
