Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either fulfill his legal duty regarding the Federal Audit Service Bill or vacate his position. Represented by his aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the president’s failure to act on the legislation passed by the National Assembly violates Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires the president to sign or reject a bill within 30 days.
Atiku emphasized that this constitutional mandate is mandatory rather than optional. He warned that stalling on the bill, which aims to improve the independence of the Auditor-General and enhance government transparency, undermines public trust. The former vice president linked this delay to broader governance concerns, including the recent controversy involving the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Citing the danger of disregarding constitutional timelines, Atiku issued a seven-day ultimatum. He insists that Tinubu must either grant his assent to the audit legislation or formally explain his refusal to the public and the National Assembly, asserting that failure to do so warrants his resignation.
