Atiku Abubakar Critiques Tinubu's Budget Allocation

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria and a member of the African Democratic Congress, criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration for its handling of the 2026 budget, which allocates ₦8.05 billion for church and mosque-related projects. Speaking from Adamawa State, Atiku expressed concerns that the budget lacks transparency, as it fails to identify specific beneficiaries of these allocations.

He highlighted that ₦1.91 billion is allocated for church-related projects and ₦6.14 billion for mosque-related projects, raising questions about the appropriateness of using public funds for religious institutions. Atiku emphasized the need for accountability, urging the Tinubu administration to publish the names of beneficiaries and the locations of the projects.

He warned against dragging religious institutions into fiscal matters, stating that it could undermine their integrity and lead to public distrust. Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of transparency in managing public resources.