Abdul Ningi, the Senator from Bauchi Central, has resigned from his position as the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum.

He was suspended after claiming in an interview that the national legislature had padded the 2024 budget. The letter of resignation was dated March 11, but it was made public immediately after he was suspended.

The letter that was submitted to the forum said, “I would like to resign from my position as the Chairman of the Northern Senators forum.” “Of course, what is happening in the North, the National Assembly, and the country as a whole makes this necessary.”

“I would like to especially thank members of the forum for the opportunity given to me for the last eight months to spearhead this very important forum. I believe this forum is very important and fundamental to the progress and development of Northern Nigeria.”

The proposal to suspend Ningi for a year was initially made by Jimoh Ibrahim, a senatorial member of the Appropriations Committee, in response to charges that he had spread false information and violated peace in the National Assembly and, by extension, the nation.

But other legislators, including Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong of the Cross River South Senatorial District and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari of Oyo North, begged for the ban to be shortened to three months instead of six.

Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, criticized Ningi for his original interview and for agreeing to a second one in which he allegedly provided evidence for his allegations of budget padding. He called the lawmaker’s acts “grievous” and said they damaged the House’s reputation.

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