Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly to launch an urgent forensic investigation into the 2026 budget following reports of over ₦210 billion in duplicated and overlapping allocations.
In a statement issued by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said the discovery raises serious concerns about fiscal accountability under the current administration.
He argued that the irregularities contradict earlier government reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, which were presented as necessary measures to stabilize the economy.
Atiku also pointed to what he described as a pattern of questionable spending, including allocations to projects outside agencies’ mandates and repeated budget insertions.
Referencing the audited 2024 financial report of NNPC Limited, he noted that ₦7.13 trillion was recorded under “Energy Security Expenses,” a category linked to petrol subsidy, despite official claims that subsidies ended in 2023.
He said the alleged fiscal mismanagement is reflected in worsening living conditions, with many Nigerians struggling to afford basic needs, while businesses shut down and unemployment remains high.
The ADC presidential candidate further urged the Auditor-General, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society groups to independently review the budget, identify those responsible, and recover misallocated funds.
Atiku pledged that his party would prioritize transparent budgeting, stricter accountability, and digital tracking of public expenditure if elected.
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