“National treasury not Bourdillon’s vault” — Atiku attacks Tinubu over N22.15bn palace projects

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has described the Federal Government’s N22.15 billion allocation for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces in the 2026 Appropriation Act as unconstitutional, accusing President Bola Tinubu of attempting to assume powers not granted by the Nigerian Constitution.

The position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in reaction to the palace projects captured in the 2026 budget.

According to Atiku, the 1999 Constitution does not assign the Federal Government responsibility for constructing or renovating palaces belonging to traditional institutions, insisting that such matters fall within the jurisdiction of state and local governments.

“President Tinubu swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, not to amend it through the Appropriation Act. Traditional institutions are matters within the constitutional competence of state and local governments. A federal budget cannot lawfully be used to assume responsibilities that the Constitution has assigned elsewhere,” he said.

The former Vice President questioned the legal basis for the allocation, asking the Federal Government to explain the constitutional provision authorising the expenditure.

“Under which provision of the Constitution is the Federal Government appropriating ₦22.15 billion from the Federation Account for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces? Which Constitution is President Tinubu operating?” Atiku queried.

He argued that while the 1999 Constitution recognises traditional institutions through advisory councils established by states, it does not empower the Federal Government to fund or administer palaces.

Atiku also criticised what he described as the lack of transparency surrounding the projects, noting that unlike other public infrastructure contained in the budget, the proposed palace projects allegedly do not clearly identify many of the beneficiaries or their locations.

“Government wants Nigerians to approve ₦22.15 billion for 106 palace projects, yet it cannot identify the beneficiaries or tell the nation where those palaces are located. Every road, school, hospital and constituency project in the national budget carries a location. Why are these projects hidden? That is not budgeting; it is writing a blank cheque for corruption,” he stated.

Atiku further alleged that the secrecy surrounding the allocations raises concerns that the projects could become channels for misappropriating public funds.

“If these projects are genuine, publish the names of the palaces, the traditional rulers, their locations, the implementing agencies and the contractors. The refusal to do so leaves Nigerians with only one conclusion—that this may be another elaborate conduit for siphoning public funds,” he added.

The ADC presidential candidate maintained that the statement was not directed against traditional rulers, saying they should not be drawn into what he described as constitutionally questionable budgetary allocations.

“Our royal fathers deserve dignity and respect. They must not be used as unwilling instruments to legitimise opaque and constitutionally questionable budgetary allocations. If this administration truly respects the traditional institution, it should stop hiding behind it,” he said.

He called on the Presidency, the Budget Office and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to publish the full details of the 106 palace projects, including their locations, beneficiaries, implementing agencies, procurement process and the constitutional basis for the expenditure.

“The national treasury is not a Bourdillon-based private vault, and the Appropriation Act is not a licence to suspend the Constitution. No government can claim to uphold the rule of law while appropriating public funds for projects it cannot constitutionally undertake and whose beneficiaries it refuses to identify,” Atiku stated.