Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of concealing N12.8 trillion within the 2026 national budget. This assertion was released through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, who identified the funds as being tucked away within the Service-Wide Vote.
Atiku characterized the 2026 budget as a severe violation of fiscal accountability standards. He highlighted that 84 percent of total budgetary spending is focused on only 10 government agencies, while the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning holds the massive N12.8 trillion sum under the Service-Wide Vote category. He argues this structure facilitates unchecked spending.
The former Vice President pointed out that the Service-Wide Vote jumped from N638 billion in the 2025 budget to N12.8 trillion for 2026, representing an increase of nearly 2,000 percent. Atiku has demanded that the President explain the legal justification and intended purpose for this surge, warning that the lack of transparency suggests the money could be diverted to fund APC political operations or the President’s 2027 re-election efforts.
