N210b duplicate allocations: Atiku demands NASS’ probe of 2026 budget

By Omeiza Ajayi

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded that the National Assembly (NASS) immediately conduct a comprehensive forensic review of the 2026 Appropriation Act, following revelations of over ₦210 billion in overlapping and duplicated allocations in the budget.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the revelation, coming alongside Nigeria’s poor showing on nearly 90 percent of globally recognised prosperity indicators, exposes the Tinubu administration as one of the most fiscally reckless governments in Nigeria’s democratic history.

“For more than three years, Nigerians have been subjected to relentless hardship. They were told that fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, higher taxes and rising tariffs were bitter pills that would eventually restore economic stability. Yet today, the same government cannot explain how more than ₦210 billion found its way into duplicated and overlapping budget provisions,” he said.

He linked the finding to what he called a growing pattern of questionable budget practices, citing allocations for projects outside agencies’ statutory mandates and insertions running into billions of naira.

The former vice president also cited the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Limited’s audited 2024 financial statements, which he said showed ₦7.13 trillion spent on “Energy Security Expenses” — what NNPC itself identifies as petrol subsidy — despite claims that subsidy had been removed in 2023.

Atiku argued that this fiscal indiscipline is reflected in declining living standards, noting that families are skipping meals, small businesses are shutting down, and graduates cannot find jobs, even as government celebrates selective economic indicators.

He also urged the Auditor-General of the Federation, anti-corruption agencies and civil society organisations to independently scrutinise the budget, identify officials responsible for the duplicated allocations, and ensure all improperly appropriated funds are recovered.

Atiku pledged that an ADC administration would restore credibility to public finance through transparent budgeting, zero-based expenditure planning, digital public expenditure tracking and strict personal accountability for public officers.

“When the owner of the barn invites goats to keep watch over his harvest, he should not be surprised when hunger follows abundance. Nigeria deserves custodians of her commonwealth, not Bourdillon caretakers of waste,” he added.