Atiku Urges National Assembly to Name Officials Behind ₦210bn Budget Duplication

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly to identify and publicly name officials responsible for the alleged ₦210 billion in duplicated and overlapping allocations contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Describing the development as a serious breach of fiscal responsibility, Atiku said merely correcting the budget would not be enough unless those responsible were held accountable.

In a statement released on Saturday, the former presidential candidate urged lawmakers to carry out a comprehensive forensic review of the budget to uncover how the duplicated allocations were introduced. He argued that Nigerians deserved full transparency regarding the budgeting process, insisting that every individual involved in the alleged irregularities should be identified and subjected to appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law.

Atiku also called on the Auditor-General of the Federation, anti-corruption agencies and civil society organisations to independently scrutinise the 2026 budget. He warned that failing to investigate the matter thoroughly would weaken public confidence in government finances and undermine efforts to promote accountability and prudent management of public resources. According to him, allegations of duplicated allocations on such a scale raise serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria's budget preparation and approval process.

The former Vice President maintained that accountability should extend beyond institutions to the individuals responsible for any proven misconduct. He said exposing and prosecuting those behind the alleged duplication would help restore public trust in the nation's budgeting system and deter similar occurrences in future appropriation exercises. His remarks add to the growing debate surrounding the 2026 federal budget and calls for greater transparency in public expenditure.