Atiku Abubakar criticizes Federal Government over ₦1.08tn allocation to cooperative college

He described this as evidence of "a blueprint to defraud Nigerians." Atiku's reaction follows an analysis by the civic technology organization, Tracka, which reportedly revealed that the college is designated to execute 2,791 capital projects across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. These projects reportedly include roads, drainage systems, solar streetlights, markets, football pitches, dialysis centers, ambulances, water schemes, recycling plants, and empowerment programs.

Atiku questioned the rationale and legal basis for assigning such a vast number of projects, worth over one trillion naira, to an institution primarily established for cooperative education. He argued that this contradicts the Federal Government’s claims of fiscal discipline, especially when Nigerians are facing economic hardship due to subsidy removal, tax increases, and rising public debt. He further stated that a government channeling such a massive allocation through an institution lacking the statutory mandate and institutional capacity for such projects cannot claim to be fighting waste or promoting fiscal discipline.

Atiku called for public scrutiny and greater transparency in the implementation of the federal budget.