Alleged Budget Padding: “I received over N1bn for constituency projects” – Ned Nwoko

Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta North senatorial district has revealed that he received over N1 billion for constituency projects.

During a recent interview, Nwoko mentioned that senators receive varying allocations based on the scale of their constituency projects. It’s not uncommon for some, including himself, to receive larger amounts.

This revelation comes amid the recent controversy of budget padding by Senator Abdul Ningi of the 2024 budget with an extra N3.7 trillion, a fund not tied to any extra project.

Although the Red Chamber denied any wrongdoing, some senators clarified the amount allocated for constituency projects in their districts.

Speaking on the developments, Nwoko made it clear that the allocated funds are for financing projects, not for personal reimbursement of individual senators.

He said, “Senators get what they lobby for, not because they have the right to it. Everybody just goes about doing what they can do for their constituencies and senatorial districts.

“A better approach would have been for senatorial uniformity. So if they say that everyone should get about N1 billion, be it. But this way, you rely on your weight and contacts to see what you can get for your people.

“We are not talking about money for the senators. This is for projects within our senatorial districts. If you have road, water, or training programmes all should aggregate to a particular amount.”

When asked whether the lawmaker gets as much as N1 billion in allocation, the senator replied:

“Of course, I did. That’s why I am who I am. But these are projects for my people.”