‘God not laundering machine for public funds’ — Atiku tackles Tinubu over N8bn church, mosque budget

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over reported allocations of about N8.05 billion for church and mosque-related projects in the 2026 budget.

The ex-Vice President accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of using religion to shield questionable public spending.

Atiku spoke in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following reports highlighting religious project allocations contained in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

The ADC presidential candidate expressed concern that billions of naira were reportedly earmarked for religious projects at a time many Nigerians continue to struggle with rising poverty, deteriorating public services and increasing debt.

Citing an analysis by public accountability organisation, Tracka, Atiku said about N1.91 billion was allocated to church-related projects, while another N6.14 billion was budgeted for mosque-related projects.

He argued that the budget failed to adequately disclose the identities of many of the religious institutions expected to benefit from the allocations, making independent verification difficult.

“God is not a laundering machine for public funds. The Tinubu administration has no moral or legal licence to hide behind the altar, the minbar, or the sacred robes of our priests and imams to mask questionable appropriations,” Atiku said.

The former Vice President maintained that if the projects were legitimate, the Federal Government should immediately publish the names of every beneficiary church and mosque, project locations, implementing agencies and the legal basis for the allocations.

“If these projects are genuine, publish the names of every beneficiary institution, disclose every project location, and execute every project in full public view,” he added.

Atiku further accused the administration of dragging religious institutions into what he described as opaque budgeting practices, warning that places of worship should not be used to conceal public expenditure.

“The Tinubu administration has crossed the moral red line by dragging the altar and the minbar into the marketplace of opaque budgeting,” he stated.

He also urged the Federal Government to keep religious leaders and institutions out of political and budgetary controversies, insisting that churches and mosques should remain centres of moral guidance rather than instruments for what he described as questionable appropriations.

“Faith must never become a camouflage for budgeting by concealment,” Atiku said.