Atiku seeks probe of ₦210bn duplicate budget items

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded that the National Assembly investigate the 2026 federal budget following reports of ₦210 billion in duplicate allocations.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded that the National Assembly investigate the 2026 federal budget. His call for a probe follows recent reports uncovering ₦210 billion in duplicate allocations buried within the government’s spending plan.

Atiku described the discovery as a symptom of a deeper malaise in Nigeria’s budget process. “The discovery of ₦210 billion in duplicate allocations is not a mere administrative error. It is evidence of a system that has lost its way,” he said. He called on the National Assembly to use its oversight powers to investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable.

The former vice president’s demand comes as the National Assembly faces growing criticism over its handling of the budget process. The discovery of duplicate allocations has raised questions about the legislature’s scrutiny of the executive’s spending proposals. Atiku’s call for a probe is an attempt to force the National Assembly to act.

This echoes the 2016 budget padding scandal, which also exposed weaknesses in Nigeria’s budget process. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a budget process that lacks transparency and accountability.

The winners: the opposition, which has gained a political weapon, and the Nigerian public, which may finally see accountability. The losers: the National Assembly, which faces criticism for its oversight failures, and the executive, which faces questions about its budget preparation.

Bottom Line: Atiku is demanding a probe of ₦210 billion in duplicate budget allocations. The National Assembly is under pressure. The question is whether it will act or ignore the call.