Atiku Challenges Tinubu Over ₦8.05 Billion Religious Allocations
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu's administration to publicly disclose the names of every church and mosque that will benefit from the ₦8.05 billion set aside for religious projects in Nigeria's 2026 federal budget. The demand comes amid growing concerns over transparency in the allocation of public funds to faith-based institutions.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warned that the allocations raise serious transparency concerns and could mask misuse of public resources. His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, issued a statement on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, outlining the former vice president's position.
Breakdown of Religious Allocations
According to figures from public accountability organisation Tracka, the 2026 budget includes approximately ₦1.91 billion for church-related projects and ₦6.14 billion for mosque-related projects. Atiku's office noted that many of the budget line items fail to clearly identify the specific worship centres that will receive the funds, making independent verification nearly impossible.
Atiku argued that religious bodies in Nigeria are typically registered as Incorporated Trustees with their own legal identities, meaning any public funds directed at them must come with full disclosure. Citizens deserve to know which institutions are involved, where the projects will be carried out, and which agencies will implement them, he said.
Government Cannot Use Religion to Evade Transparency
"Government cannot invoke the sanctity of religion to evade the standards of openness demanded in the management of public resources," Atiku stated. He drew a sharp contrast between these allocations and spending on roads, schools, and hospitals, which are typically identified by location and beneficiary community. The ADC presidential candidate argued that religious allocations without similar disclosure create room for abuse.
Atiku called on the Presidency to immediately publish the names of all beneficiary institutions, project locations, implementing agencies, and the legal basis for the appropriations. He warned that failure to do so would deepen public suspicion that religion was being used as cover for misappropriation of government funds.
Faith Not a Laundering Machine for Public Funds
"God is not a laundering machine for public funds. Faith must never become a camouflage for budgeting by concealment," Atiku said. He made clear that his objection was not to genuine public support for community projects linked to religious institutions, but to the absence of transparency surrounding the current allocations. Any project worthy of government funding should be openly identified and executed in full public view, he added.
Broader Economic Criticism
Atiku also linked the transparency issue to broader economic challenges under the Tinubu administration. He previously stated that Nigeria's economic hardship stems from policies that rewarded importation over industrial production. Citing food inflation figures and a ₦3.53 trillion raw material import bill, Atiku argued these are proof of a failing economic model. He outlined what an ADC government would do to shift Nigeria toward agriculture, manufacturing, and export-led growth.
In another statement, Atiku described the 2026 Federal Budget as the most brazen assault on transparency in Nigeria's democratic history. He noted that the Service-Wide Vote in the 2026 Appropriation Act ballooned from ₦638 billion to ₦12.8 trillion, a near 1,918% rise in one year. Atiku demanded the National Assembly launch a line-by-line investigation into the allocations and asked who the workers earning ₦2.19 trillion in personnel costs are.
