Atiku Abubakar Condemns Senate's Rapid Approval of Tinubu's Loan and Budget Adjustments
Nigerian opposition leader Atiku Abubakar has issued a sharp critique of the Senate's reported swift approval of a $6 billion external loan request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Atiku described the process as a dangerous erosion of legislative oversight that threatens the country's economic stability and future generations.
Senate Passes 2026 Budget with Significant Increases
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the Nigerian Senate passed the 2026 appropriation bill after incorporating President Tinubu's request for an upward revision. The president had asked the National Assembly to approve adjustments, proposing an increase of N9.3 trillion to the budget. This raised the total from an initial N58.47 trillion to N67.7 trillion.
According to reports, the Senate not only approved the president's request but also added an extra N623 billion, bringing the final budget figure to N68.323 trillion. The approval came through voice votes, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio announcing the passage just hours after receiving Tinubu's letter.
Atiku's Strong Reaction to the Development
Reacting through a statement from his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed deep concern over the rapid approval, which reportedly took less than four hours. He labeled the development as not just troubling but alarming, emphasizing that such a decision with profound national consequences should not be treated with reckless urgency.
Atiku stated, "What Nigerians have witnessed is not legislative diligence, but a disturbing erosion of oversight responsibility." He stressed that the National Assembly is designed to function as a constitutional safeguard, meant to interrogate, scrutinize, and protect the interests of the Nigerian people, rather than acting as a mere rubber stamp.
Warnings of Economic Desperation and Future Risks
The presidential hopeful added that the speed of the approval suggests "a troubling sense of desperation," which does not inspire confidence in the country's long-term economic direction. He warned, "Nigeria is not a private enterprise to be leveraged at will. The future of our nation cannot be signed away in a matter of hours." Atiku highlighted that this move will further burden an already strained economy and mortgage the future of unborn generations.
Atiku Denies Resignation from Politics
In related news, ahead of the 2027 elections, Atiku has accused "anti-democratic elements" of attempting to create confusion and dampen the momentum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Through a statement from his media office, he asserted that insinuations about him quitting active politics are fake news, reaffirming his commitment to political engagement.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions in Nigerian politics, with opposition figures like Atiku challenging government actions perceived as undermining democratic processes and economic prudence.
