Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has called for a thorough investigation into the 2026 Appropriation Act, citing reports of over N210 billion in alleged duplicated and overlapping budget allocations.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the alleged duplication as another indication of poor fiscal management under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He said the controversy comes at a time when Nigerians are battling rising inflation, high unemployment and worsening economic hardship despite the government’s economic reform agenda.

According to Atiku, the reported budget irregularities reflect a growing pattern of questionable spending practices, including allocations for projects outside the mandates of government agencies and controversial budget insertions worth billions of naira.

He also criticised the Federal Government over its handling of fuel subsidy removal, arguing that despite claims that the subsidy ended in 2023, the audited 2024 financial statements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited showed that N7.13 trillion was spent on what the company described as “Energy Security Expenses,” which it identified as petrol subsidy or under-recovery.

Atiku maintained that the revelation raises questions about the government’s transparency and accountability.

He further argued that the country’s worsening economic conditions contradict official claims of progress, noting that many Nigerians continue to struggle with the rising cost of living, while businesses are shutting down and unemployment remains high.