Atiku Criticizes Tinubu Over N22.15 Billion Palace Funds

Atiku Abubakar has condemned Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding a N22.15 billion allocation for the renovation and furnishing of 106 palaces across Nigeria. This allocation has sparked concerns about government spending priorities, especially given a N31.45 trillion budget deficit and pressing needs in health and education.

A report by Tracka, an initiative of the BudgIT Foundation, revealed that many of the palace projects lack identifiable locations, making oversight difficult. Furthermore, none of the 45 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) involved have the legal authority to execute these projects.

The federal government has funneled funds through unrelated institutions, such as the Federal Cooperative College in Ibadan, which received N2.661 billion for community halls and palaces, and the Sheda Science and Technology Complex in Abuja, which was allocated N1.54 billion for palace modernization. Other allocations include N3.92 billion to the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute for various palace projects.