Atiku Accuses Tinubu Administration of Budget Manipulation

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to shield Femi Gbajabiamila from scrutiny, which he claims has led to greater ridicule for the government. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku referenced the 2026 Appropriation Act, alleging that it reveals a disturbing pattern of budgetary manipulation.

He noted that while the National Commission for Almajiri Education was established to address the educational needs of millions of out-of-school children, the Tinubu administration allocated significant funds for road construction projects instead. Specifically, he pointed out that 1.4 billion naira was earmarked for various road projects, while only 1.05 billion naira was set aside for the almajiri education initiative.

Atiku emphasized that this misallocation of funds represents a betrayal of the educational needs of Nigerian children, especially when 20 million remain out of school. He further criticized the administration for failing to address allegations of corruption and mismanagement effectively.