I got more than others. All animals are equal but some are more equal than the other – Senator Ndume reacts to claim senators were given N500m

Senator Ali Ndume, the Senate Chief Whip, has disclosed that as a principal officer in the 10th National Assembly, he received more than the allocated N200 million, which is typically provided to some of his colleagues and floor members for constituency projects under the 2024 Appropriation Act.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Wednesday, Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made this statement.

He was addressing allegations made by Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe from Cross River North, who had revealed a day earlier that certain senators received a total of N500 million each from the 2024 Budget for constituency projects.

He said, “My colleagues know that I got more than them [floor members].

“All the senators have N200m (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference. 10 of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal…My colleagues know that I go more than them.”

Asked whether the claim by Agom-Jarigbe was true, Ndume said, “It’s disparity now, we are not the same; all animals are equal but some are more equal than the other. That’s what the case is. They have agreed to that.

“All the senators have N200m (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference. 10 of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal.

“That decision is taken by the senators. We have the senate budget committee before but now the floor members entrusted that to the presiding officers. That’s the difference. So, most of the senators don’t know what I get and I will not tell you.”