Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has requested an urgent probe into roughly ₦8.8 trillion of alleged off-budget spending by the current administration. His call follows a recent IMF Article IV consultation report on Nigeria, which was highlighted in a July 2026 Reuters article. The report suggests that expenditures equaling 2% of the nation’s GDP were absent from official budget records.
Atiku labeled this situation a major instance of fiscal recklessness. He argued that these funds bypassed essential legislative oversight, procurement rules, and auditing processes. According to the former candidate, this pattern reflects an off-budget management style previously seen in Lagos State, which he believes has now moved to the federal level. Furthermore, he claimed that ₦800 billion was illegally deducted from state government allocations, suggesting these combined funds may be intended for a political war chest for the 2027 elections.
Highlighting the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Atiku linked these issues to a broader trend of financial secrecy. He noted that while citizens face harsh economic reforms, substantial public resources are being managed outside of legal frameworks. Consequently, he has urged the National Assembly to hold emergency hearings, requested a full audit from the Auditor-General, and called upon anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to investigate. He insists the government must disclose project details, contractors, and the authorization process for these expenditures.
