Atiku Abubakar Critiques Tinubu's Palliative Distribution

Atiku Abubakar, in a statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, criticized the Tinubu administration for its handling of a ₦33.75 billion palliative meant for 3.29 million vulnerable households, which translates to approximately ₦10,258 per household. He condemned the administration for raising expectations among Nigerians while failing to provide a clear audit trail for the funds.

Atiku described the situation as a "heartless betrayal" and labeled the intervention as "insultingly small." He praised Auditor-General Shaakaa Chira, appointed by the Tinubu administration in October 2023, for prioritizing accountability over political convenience. Atiku pointed out discrepancies in the government's claims regarding the number of households benefiting from the program, stating that the administration could not coherently account for the disbursement of over ₦600 billion.

He emphasized that mere announcements do not constitute proof of payment and called for transparency regarding the funds allocated to the poor.