Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to deflect attention from the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), saying recent budget revelations have only fueled public concern.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku claimed that efforts to defend the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, have instead intensified scrutiny of the administration over alleged financial irregularities.
According to Atiku, the 2026 Appropriation Act contains questionable budget allocations, including billions of naira earmarked for road construction under the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education—an agency established to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.
He argued that the commission’s statutory responsibilities have no connection to road construction, making the allocations difficult to justify at a time when millions of Nigerian children remain outside the formal education system.
The former Vice President cited several road projects allegedly listed under the commission’s budget, with allocations totaling billions of naira, and alleged that the projects were hidden within agencies unlikely to attract significant public scrutiny.
Atiku further claimed that the development reflects a broader pattern of budget insertions and questionable spending decisions, referencing similar allegations he said surfaced during previous budget cycles.
He also revisited claims made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi regarding the PFIPC, including allegations that he was asked to provide substantial payments in connection with his appointment as the council’s Director-General. Atiku questioned why Adeyemi has not been prosecuted if government officials believe the allegations against him amount to fraud.
The ADC presidential candidate also asked why Adeyemi reportedly continued operating from the Federal Secretariat and was able to engage publicly with officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite being under investigation.
According to Atiku, the Presidency’s public denials have failed to adequately address the concerns raised by the allegations.
He maintained that President Bola Tinubu bears ultimate responsibility for the implementation of the 2026 budget because the Appropriation Act was signed into law under his administration. He argued that either the disputed allocations received presidential approval or they were included without the President’s knowledge, both of which, he said, raise serious questions about governance and oversight.
Atiku also called on the National Assembly to explain how the disputed budget items passed legislative review, urging lawmakers to uphold their constitutional responsibility of protecting public funds.
He concluded by demanding an independent and transparent investigation into both the PFIPC controversy and the disputed budget allocations, insisting that Nigerians deserve accountability and full disclosure over the management of public resources.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has not issued a fresh response to Atiku’s latest allegations.
