Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised fresh off-budget spending allegations against the Tinubu administration, claiming the federal government spent roughly ₦8.8 trillion outside Nigeria’s official budget. He made the claim in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Saturday, citing a new IMF report as his source.
According to Atiku, a Reuters report published on July 1, 2026 quoted the International Monetary Fund’s latest Article IV consultation on Nigeria. That report reportedly found that public expenditure equal to about 2 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP never appeared in recent official budgets. Atiku converted that percentage into naira terms, arriving at the ₦8.8 trillion figure he’s now demanding answers for.
Why Atiku Calls This Nigeria’s Biggest Fiscal Scandal
Atiku didn’t mince words when describing the situation. He called it “the most consequential act of fiscal impunity in Nigeria’s recent democratic history.” Consequently, he urged Nigerians, journalists, civil society groups, and the National Assembly to push hard for accountability.
He went further, alleging that large-scale government projects ran outside the official budget entirely. Because of this, he argued, these projects bypassed legislative oversight, standard procurement rules, and scrutiny from the Auditor-General’s office. He also claimed this pattern mirrors an off-budget revenue model he says once operated in Lagos State, now allegedly replicated at the federal level.
State Allocations Also Named in Off-Budget Spending Allegations
Beyond the federal spending claims, Atiku raised a second issue involving state governments. He alleged that roughly ₦800 billion had been unlawfully deducted from statutory allocations owed to Nigeria’s states. These funds, he claimed, were diverted without proper constitutional or legislative approval.
Taken together, Atiku suggested the combined figures point toward something more troubling: a political war chest being quietly assembled ahead of the 2027 general election. He then connected these allegations to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, framing both issues as symptoms of the same underlying problem—fiscal opacity within government operations.
Meanwhile, he reminded Nigerians of the economic sacrifices they’ve already endured. Fuel subsidy removal, currency adjustments, and high interest rates have all squeezed household budgets recently. Yet, according to Atiku, significant public funds were simultaneously flowing outside official channels during this same period.
What Atiku Wants Done Next
Atiku didn’t stop at making accusations; he laid out specific demands too. First, he called on the National Assembly to convene emergency investigative hearings addressing the IMF’s findings without delay. Additionally, he wants the Auditor-General of the Federation to conduct a full audit covering every alleged off-budget expenditure.
He also demanded that the federal government publish comprehensive details about these projects. Specifically, he wants information on contractors involved, procurement steps taken, and which officials authorised the spending in the first place. Furthermore, he called on the EFCC, ICPC, and other anti-corruption agencies to formally investigate both the unrecorded expenditures and the alleged state allocation deductions.
Regarding the disputed ₦800 billion, Atiku insisted the government must restore those funds to affected states immediately. He also wants a transparent account detailing exactly how that money was used before reaching its current status. Beyond government institutions, he encouraged civil society organizations, professional bodies, business leaders, and international development partners to jointly push for stronger transparency in how Nigeria manages public finances.
A Familiar Pattern of Political Pressure
This isn’t Atiku’s first attempt to pressure the current administration this year. He’d previously given President Tinubu a seven-day window to address the PFIPC scandal or risk facing complicity accusations. Other figures, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana and members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, have similarly demanded answers regarding that same controversy.
Given how frequently these fiscal disputes keep surfacing, it’s becoming clear that budget transparency remains a persistent flashpoint in Nigerian politics. Whether the National Assembly responds to Atiku’s latest push, though, remains genuinely uncertain at this point.
For now, these off-budget spending allegations add yet another layer of scrutiny onto an administration already fielding multiple corruption-related controversies. As 2027 approaches, expect political rivals to keep highlighting Nigeria’s budget processes, especially wherever gaps between official figures and actual expenditure appear to exist.
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