Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the Federal Audit Service Bill into law or vacate his office. Through his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticized the President for ignoring the legislation long after the National Assembly submitted it for approval.
Atiku argued that the delay reflects a disregard for the rule of law and constitutional duty. He cited Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the President to either approve or reject a bill within thirty days. He emphasized that this is a legal obligation rather than a personal choice.
The bill aims to update Nigeria’s auditing framework and bolster the autonomy of the auditor-general. Atiku warned that stalling such vital reforms erodes public trust and weakens oversight mechanisms. He linked the administration’s inaction to broader concerns regarding institutional negligence, including the recent controversy over the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and reports from the International Monetary Fund highlighting N8.8 trillion in unexplained expenditures.
