Atiku Abubakar Critiques ₦1.08tn Budget for College

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, criticized the allocation of ₦1.08 trillion to the Federal Cooperative College in Oji River, Enugu State, as part of the 2026 Appropriation Act. In a statement released on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku referred to an analysis by civic technology organization Tracka, which claimed the college was tasked with executing 2,791 capital projects across Nigeria.

He expressed concern over the credibility of the budget, especially as the Federal Government is urging citizens to endure economic reforms and increased taxes. Atiku questioned the rationale behind assigning such extensive project responsibilities to an institution primarily focused on cooperative education, stating it undermines claims of prudent financial management by the Tinubu administration.

He argued that the budget reflects a lack of transparency and accountability in public fund management, suggesting it appears designed to obscure public spending.