The Senator representing Cross River North in the National Assembly, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, made headlines on Sunday as he abruptly terminated a live interview session, citing discomfort with probing questions regarding the 2024 budget.
During the interview on the Arise News breakfast show, Senator Jarigbe expressed reluctance to delve into the specifics of the budget, stating that he hadn’t scrutinized the details line by line. When pressed further by one of the anchors about the budgetary provisions for his senatorial district, the Senator deflected, emphasizing his focus on serving his constituents rather than engaging in budget discussions.
In response, the TV anchor asserted that it was the Senator’s responsibility, not hers, to scrutinize the budget for his constituency. She clarified that she assessed the budget on a ministry-by-ministry basis, not as an elected representative.
Frustrated by the direction of the conversation, Senator Jarigbe voiced his desire to shift the topic to matters concerning his thanksgiving and representation to his constituents. Expressing concern over potential repercussions, he threatened to walk away if pressed further on the budget issue.
Shortly thereafter, the connection to Senator Jarigbe was lost, signaling an abrupt end to the interview.
The incident comes amidst controversy surrounding the integrity of the 2024 budget, with allegations of padding totaling N3.7 trillion leveled by Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi. Both the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government have refuted Ningi’s claims, leading to the suspension of the lawmaker for three months.
Senator Jarigbe’s actions highlight the heightened sensitivity surrounding budget discussions and the challenges faced by lawmakers in addressing such contentious issues.
