Editorial
Alleged Budget Padding: Need For Transparency

Senator Abdul Ningi’s revelation about the padding of Nigeria’s 2024 budget with an enormous N3.7
trillion has sent shockwaves throughout the country. Budget padding has unfortunately become a regular occurrence in Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999. Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo had criticised the National Assembly for their practices of budget bloating during his time in office between 1999 and 2007.
The budget padding scandal started off quietly with a meeting between the Northern Senators Forum and President Bola Tinubu regarding the alleged N3.7 trillion insertion in the 2024 appropriation. Senator Ningi revealed that the budget passed by the Senate for 2024 was N25 trillion, not the N28 trillion being implemented by Tinubu. The discrepancy raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the budgeting process.
Ningi’s interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service exposed the deal and sparked concern among the Senate leadership. In the interview, the senator mentioned that the Forum would look into the “additional sum of N3 trillion” and other budget items that were not previously disclosed to the Senate. This caused a push to penalise him, with backing from the Presidency. Many Northern senators chose to distance themselves from Ningi rather than support him.
Apart from the budget lining accusations, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe disclosed during the debate on the breach of privilege motion raised by Senator Olamilekan Adeola against Ningi for his interview with the BBC, that senior senators received N500 million each. Additionally, there were claims that the government authorised N2.5 billion for Senate President Godswill Akpabio to procure deep freezers, generators and other items for his constituency as part of empowerment projects.
Budget padding continues to be a persistent challenge within the National Assembly, a fact that has been acknowledged by previous Presidents. In 2016, the chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumini Jibrin, made accusations against the former House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and three other officials. Jibrin claimed that they fraudulently took N40 billion from the N100 billion allocated for constituency projects. This scandal caused a major uproar and Jibrin was subsequently removed from his position for exposing the supposed fraud.
Projects worth N480 billion were fraudulently inserted into the budget during the defence sessions that year. In 2019, fraudulent projects worth billions were discovered in Nigeria’s defence budget. Former President Muhammadu Buhari accused the National Assembly of increasing the budget by N90 billion, making it difficult to achieve his government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
Buhari also conveyed his disappointment with the modifications made to the budget by lawmakers in 2022. These changes included a N400 billion increase in federal independent revenue, a reduction in allowances for the Nigerian Police and Navy and the addition of new provisions for National Assembly projects. During the signing of the 2023 Appropriation Bill on January 2, federal lawmakers introduced new projects totalling approximately N770.72 billion and estimates provided by MDAs were raised by around N58.55 billion.
Regrettably, President Tinubu addressed allegations of the budget alterations by asserting that those levying such accusations lacked a comprehensive understanding of budgetary processes. He stressed that the budget figures were meticulously calculated and grounded on a strong basis, while also affirming the senators’ integrity. Tinubu’s comments were intended to elucidate any misconceptions and uphold the transparency of the budgeting procedure. However, the President’s stance on the issue may inadvertently foster corruption among the legislators.
Senator Ningi’s suspension lacks legitimacy and therefore he should be reinstated immediately. Rather, the Senate leadership should address his allegations of budget padding sincerely and stop chasing shadows. If BudgIT’s report is accurate, the Senate must allocate the N3.7trillion towards essential areas like education, health and poverty alleviation. We commend Senators Ningi and Jarigbe for speaking out. We think that an independent panel of inquiry should be established by the Federal Government to investigate their concerns.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) are well aware of their responsibilities and do not need to be instructed before discharging them. They have to apprehend and prosecute all individuals involved in the alleged budget fraud to end the corrupt practice. No one should be exempt from investigation, as there should be no sacred cows in the fight against budget graft.
Our lawmakers must shun this rip-off because it diverts funds from essential sectors to projects that may not serve the public interest. This is detrimental to economic development. It worsens inequality, undermines public trust in government institutions and can lead to inflation by injecting unauthorised funds. It can also reduce citizens’ purchasing power, divert resources from productive investments, hinder progress, perpetuate poverty and facilitate corruption within government agencies.
To prevent budget padding, oversight mechanisms such as the Budget Office of the Federation and the National Assembly should be strengthened. Transparency and accountability in the budgeting process play a critical role in identifying and preventing padding. Legislative reforms should be put in place to streamline the budget process and ensure compliance with fiscal discipline. The establishment of independent budget monitoring committees can also help enhance accountability and curb the menace.
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Editorial
Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
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