Senate allocates N47.5bn for undisclosed schools, Rufai Oseni raises alarm

By Innocent Raphael

In response to growing concerns about the budget padding allegation raised by now suspended Senator Abdul Ningi, Arise Television Anchor, Rufai Oseni has pointed the Senate had to explain to Nigerians why 47.5 Billion Naira have been allocated for the infrastructural upgrade of 50 schools.

Rufai made this known in a terse post on his official X handle, posting a picture of a section of the 2024 budget, with some words and amount highlighted under the section of the Federal Ministry of Education.

The words highlighted, read: ‘Fifty Selected Government Secondary Schools Across the Nation for Infrastructure Upgrade and Provision of Educational Materials and Teaching Tools’ with highlighted figures of 47,500,000,000.

He wrote: “The Ministry of Education has been allocated ₦47.5 billion for the renovation of 50 schools across Nigeria, with undisclosed locations. Does this affirm some of the concerns raised by Senator Abdul Ningi?”

This significant investment by the Ministry of Education the selected schools, comes at a time when Senator Abdul Ningi had been vocal about the misappropriation of finances and self-motivated inflation of budgets in Nigeria.

His concerns, echoed by many citizens, highlight the urgent need for action to ensure the accountability of law makers and stakeholders responsible for policy implementation.