‘Caretakers of Waste’ – Atiku Demands Thorough Probe of Tinubu’s 2026 Budget

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has called for a comprehensive investigation into the 2026 Appropriation Act signed by President Bola Tinubu.  

Atiku’s demand follows reports of over N210 billion in alleged duplicated and overlapping budget allocations, which he described as further evidence of poor fiscal management by the Federal Government.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the controversy highlights a pattern of questionable budget practices that undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.

 He criticised the administration’s handling of economic reforms, particularly the fuel subsidy removal.

Atiku pointed to NNPC Limited’s 2024 audited financial statements, which reportedly showed N7.13 trillion spent on “Energy Security Expenses”  described as petrol subsidy or under-recovery  despite official claims that the subsidy had been fully removed in 2023.

 The former Vice President noted that Nigerians continue to face rising inflation, high unemployment, and worsening living conditions, with many families struggling to feed themselves and businesses closing down.

He argued that the government’s reforms have failed to deliver promised benefits.

Atiku urged transparency and accountability, stating that repeated budget irregularities, including allocations for projects outside agency mandates and controversial insertions, demand immediate scrutiny by relevant authorities.

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