Atiku Demands Probe Of Reported ₦8.8Trn Off-Budget Spending, Alleges Funds Could Be Used For 2027 Politics
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Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called for an urgent investigation into reports that public expenditures amounting to about ₦8.8 trillion were incurred outside Nigeria’s official budget framework, describing the development as a major threat to fiscal transparency and constitutional governance.
Atiku, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, cited a reported International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment indicating that public expenditures equivalent to about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) were not captured in recent federal budgets.
According to him, the figure translates to approximately ₦8.8 trillion and raises serious questions about compliance with constitutional provisions governing public spending.
The former vice president alleged that the reported off-budget expenditures, alongside claims of deductions from state allocations, could be linked to the building of a political war chest ahead of the 2027 general elections. He, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation and called for independent investigations to establish the facts.
Atiku argued that any public expenditure outside the approved budget undermines the oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly and weakens accountability in the management of public resources.
He also linked the issue to the recent controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), claiming both developments point to broader concerns about transparency in government finances.
The ADC presidential candidate criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate reforms and rising borrowing, contending that Nigerians continue to endure severe economic hardship despite what he described as unaccounted public spending.
He maintained that greater transparency in the management of public funds could have supported investments in critical sectors, reduced borrowing costs and stimulated economic growth.
Atiku called on the National Assembly to convene emergency investigative hearings into the reported IMF findings and urged the Auditor-General of the Federation to conduct a comprehensive audit of all alleged off-budget expenditures.
He also asked the Federal Government to publicly disclose details of every project and expenditure allegedly executed outside the budget, including the officials, contractors and procurement processes involved.
In addition, he urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate the reported expenditures and other allegations surrounding public finances.
The Federal Government has consistently maintained that its fiscal reforms are aimed at strengthening the economy and improving public finance management. As of the time of filing this report, it had not issued a response to Atiku’s latest statement.
