Nigerians saying 2024 budget was padded don’t ‘Understand The Arithmetic,’—-Tinubu Blasts Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu has defended the 2024 budget despite an accusation that it was padded. He said those claiming an “embellishment” in it do not “understand the arithmetic”.

Senator Abdul Ningi had claimed over N3.7 billion in the budget could not be traced to any project. While the Senate later suspended him, President Tinubu believes such allegations show he does not understand the “arithmetic” behind it.

“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,” he told the leadership of the Senate when he hosted them to break the Ramadan fast at the State House on Thursday in Abuja

“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”.

Tinubu also spoke about the nation’s economy which is battling inflation and a depreciation of the currency.

But he told the gathering that the nation was on the verge of victory.

“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 to turn the corner. Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditure and manage ourselves better,” Tinubu said.

“Light is at the end of the tunnel, and Nigerians will soon smile again,” the President affirmed.