Atiku challenges Tinubu administration on 2% GDP budget omission
via Punch Nigeria10 min read
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Bola Tinubu administration to explain public expenditure equivalent to two percent of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product that was reportedly omitted from recent budget documentation. Atiku described this omission, highlighted by the International Monetary Fund, as evidence of "institutional corruption" and a "constitutional, legal and moral scandal." He questioned who authorized, approved, and benefited from this missing expenditure. Atiku linked this issue to the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, which the Presidency has denied establishing, arguing both incidents suggest a pattern of public institution abuse and weak fiscal accountability. He noted that while the Federal Ministry of Health reportedly received only N36 million in releases despite a N218 billion allocation, the controversial agency allegedly received N1.3 billion. Atiku urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to clarify the agency's official recognition. He also referenced allegations from Adeniyi Adeyemi, a figure linked to the controversy, who claimed a dispute arose after he refused a 48 percent kickback demand from the Office of the Chief of Staff over a proposed N27.3 billion grant for the agency. Atiku called for an independent investigation into these allegations, emphasizing that accountability is crucial, es
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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