Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has labelled the Tinubu administration one of the most fiscally reckless governments in Nigeria's democratic history, citing the discovery of more than ₦210 billion in duplicated and overlapping allocations within the 2026 Federal Budget alongside the country's weak performance across nearly 90 per cent of recognised global prosperity indicators.
Budget Irregularities and Global Indicators
Atiku linked the budget scandal to Nigeria's poor showing on global prosperity metrics. He noted that the duplication of funds reflects systemic mismanagement that has dragged down the nation's economic standing. According to him, the government's fiscal conduct has directly contributed to Nigeria's failure on nearly 90 percent of international prosperity benchmarks.
The former vice president also referenced a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) revelation that Nigeria omitted public expenditure equivalent to two per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from recent budgets. Atiku argued that this omission further exposed the lack of transparency in President Bola Tinubu's government.
Subsidy Reclassification and NNPC Spending
Atiku contended that the budget irregularities were not an isolated lapse but part of a recurring pattern of questionable expenditure. He pointed specifically to NNPC Limited's audited 2024 financial statements, which showed that ₦7.13 trillion was spent on what the company categorised as "Energy Security Expenses" — a line item the company itself identifies as petrol under-recovery, or subsidy.
He argued that this meant the subsidy had never been abolished but was instead reclassified and quietly charged to the Federation Account without public disclosure. The statement, issued by Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, asserted that the two independent findings together had punctured the government's narrative of successful economic reform.
Demands for Forensic Review and Accountability
The former vice president called on the National Assembly to conduct a comprehensive forensic review of the 2026 Appropriation Act. He directed legislators to publish every duplicated provision, name the officials responsible for approving them, and recover any improperly appropriated funds. He also urged the Auditor-General of the Federation, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society groups to carry out independent scrutiny and publish their findings.
Atiku maintained that the human cost of the administration's fiscal conduct was visible in the everyday struggles of ordinary Nigerians, from families skipping meals and parents unable to pay school fees, to businesses closing and young graduates unable to find employment. Speaking in his capacity as the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku pledged that an ADC administration would introduce transparent budgeting, zero-based expenditure planning, digital public expenditure tracking, and personal accountability for public officers managing government funds.
Reaction to WAEC and NECO Fee Hike Suspension
In a related development, Atiku welcomed the government's suspension of the proposed WAEC and NECO registration fee increases. His statement, also issued by aide Phrank Shaibu, criticised the Tinubu administration for announcing harsh policies before consulting Nigerians. The former vice president urged the government to develop a sustainable funding model for exam bodies that does not burden struggling families.
