President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, reacted for the first time to allegation of budget padding by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi State, and concluded that those alleging malicious embellishment of the 2024 financial estimate don’t understand its arithmetic. 

Tinubu said he knew the arithmetic of the numbers that he brought to the Senate, when he presented the 2024 budget and also knew what he got back, when it was passed.

The president, however, assured Nigerians that the current security and economic challenges facing the country would soon become a thing of the past, confident the nation would surmount her challenges.

In a related development, the National Economic Council (NEC) rose from its 140th monthly meeting in Abuja, on Thursday, with a revelation that all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owed the federal government a total of N1.718 trillion from budget support facility extended to them during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

This was as Vice-President  Kashim Shettima has hinted at the firm resolve of the renewed hope administration of President Tinubu to leave a legacy of prosperity and opportunity for all Nigerians.

Speaking at a special Iftar with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and other  senators at the State House, Abuja, the president addressed the lingering allegation of budget padding for the first time since the news became topical. 

Appreciating the Senate for its works, particularly the passage of the Students Loan Bill, the president told the leadership of the Senate that the integrity of the National Assembly must remain intact and that his administration would always encourage cooperation for the advancement of the nation.

“I know the arithmetic of the budget and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back. I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much. 

“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget; they did not understand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.  

“I am grateful for what you have been doing. The natural challenge we are facing will be over. On the current economic difficulty, we are about turning the corner. 

“Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditure and manage ourselves better. Light is at the end of the tunnel, and Nigerians will soon smile again,” the President affirmed.

Reechoing his position that challenges would not defeat Nigeria, he said, “The challenges of insecurity will be over, they can’t defeat us, we have to rescue our country. 

“It’s in this freedom and strong determination that we believe we can bring about prosperity to everyone of us. We’re entitled to it and definitely, I assure you, you will partake in the essence of the prosperity.”

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu said, “Yes, we are definitely challenged. 

“The security challenges around us, our armed forces are trying, but we will not allow them to undermine the integrity and the value of our armed forces and the leadership of the armed forces. 

“We will continue to encourage and fight for our sovereignty, our individual right to exist, banish poverty from our society. 

“The national challenge that we face will be over, the economic challenge, we’re about turning the corner. Our revenue is improving and you can see it reflected in the sub-nationals.

“All we have to do is… and manage ourselves much better. I know you share bread without butter, maybe time around we’ll put butter beside your bread.

Earlier, Akpabio, who led members of the red chamber of the National Assembly to the State House Banquet Hall for the fourth in the series of the special Iftar, expressed the commitment of lawmakers towards ensuring the Renewed Hope Agenda succeeds.

Deji Elumoye