Atiku vows probe of ₦33.75bn cash transfer scheme under Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has committed to establishing an independent inquiry examining how ₦33.75 billion in cash transfers reached vulnerable Nigerian households under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Following concerns voiced in an audit report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, questions have emerged regarding whether recipients actually obtained these funds.

The African Democratic Congress presidential candidate stated that his proposed investigation would create documentation showing the disbursement trail and identifying actual recipients. Through a Saturday statement via spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, Atiku emphasised that the numbers alone reveal inadequacy in this government's relief effort.

His analysis shows that ₦33.75 billion split across 3.29 million households produces roughly ₦10,258 per household—insufficient given the hardships from removed fuel subsidies, surging transport expenses, rising electricity charges, and climbing food costs. Atiku termed the measure woefully inadequate and contended the administration has not delivered genuine assistance to Nigerians struggling economically.

Atiku praised Auditor-General Shaakaa Chira for pressing the government on spending transparency regarding this programme. He presented audit conclusions as documentation of poor administration during a period of acute economic strain for ordinary citizens.

According to the former vice president, his expert panel would pursue tracing fund movements and furnishing the public with verified records of the actual payment process. Launched as governmental social support, the cash transfer initiative faced scrutiny over how funds flowed to recipients and whether claimed beneficiary numbers matched real payments disbursed.

As of Saturday, no official response from government authorities addressing either Atiku's statement or audit findings had surfaced.