Ayomide Awe
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the alleged allocation of ₦22.15 billion in the proposed 2026 federal budget for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces across Nigeria, describing the expenditure as unconstitutional and lacking transparency.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the budgetary provision represented a violation of the constitutional responsibilities of the Federal Government and raised concerns about accountability in public spending.
He alleged that the allocation reflected an attempt to turn the national budget into “an instrument for illegality and official corruption.”
According to the former vice president, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly defines the responsibilities of the various tiers of government and does not assign the Federal Government the duty of constructing or renovating palaces belonging to traditional rulers.
Atiku stressed that his position should not be interpreted as an attack on Nigeria’s traditional institutions, which he described as deserving of honour and respect.
Instead, he called on the Presidency, the Budget Office and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to provide full details of the proposed projects.
Specifically, he demanded the publication of the complete list of the 106 palaces earmarked for renovation or construction, their locations, the amount allocated to each project, the constitutional justification for the expenditure and the procurement process through which the contracts would be awarded.
He said, “Our royal fathers deserve dignity and respect. They must not be used as unwilling instruments to legitimise opaque and constitutionally questionable budgetary allocations.
“If this administration truly respects the traditional institution, it should stop hiding behind it.”
Atiku maintained that public funds must be spent in line with constitutional provisions and urged the Federal Government to uphold transparency and accountability in the implementation of the 2026 budget.
The Presidency had yet to respond to Atiku’s claims as of the time of filing this report.
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