By Opeyemi Adelakun
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the Federal Government to explain what he described as unexplained public expenditure allegedly left out of Nigeria’s recent budget records.
The former Vice President said the issue, highlighted in a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment of Nigeria’s public finances, raises serious questions about transparency, fiscal discipline and constitutional accountability.
In a statement released on Saturday through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the reported omission of government spending estimated at two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could not be dismissed as a mere administrative oversight.
According to him, every public expenditure must have passed through an approval process, making it necessary for the government to disclose who authorised, released and utilised the funds.
He maintained that Nigerians deserve a full explanation of the expenditure, insisting that public resources cannot disappear without accountability.
The IMF had expressed concerns over gaps in Nigeria’s fiscal reporting, noting that expenditure equivalent to about two per cent of the country’s GDP was not reflected in recent budget documentation. The global financial institution subsequently recommended stronger budget transparency and tighter public financial management.
Atiku linked the IMF observations to the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), arguing that both developments point to deeper weaknesses in public financial oversight.
He questioned reports that the controversial agency allegedly received about N1.3 billion while critical sectors, including healthcare, struggled with limited releases despite substantial budgetary allocations.
The ADC standard-bearer also called on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to clarify how the disputed agency allegedly secured official recognition within government circles despite the Presidency’s insistence that no such body exists.
Atiku further urged authorities to investigate claims reportedly made by Adeniyi Adeyemi, the central figure in the PFIPC controversy, regarding an alleged demand for a kickback linked to the agency’s proposed take-off funding.
He said the allegations should neither be ignored nor treated as political rhetoric, stressing that an independent investigation would either expose wrongdoing or clear those accused.
The former Vice President argued that the questions surrounding public finances have become even more significant at a time Nigerians are contending with rising inflation, higher electricity tariffs, increased taxation, fuel subsidy removal and growing economic hardship.
He called on the National Assembly, the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Public Accounts Committees, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter and ensure that every public expenditure is properly accounted for.
According to Atiku, restoring public confidence in government requires full disclosure of the alleged off-budget spending and accountability for anyone found to have breached the law.
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