Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has publicly challenged President Bola Tinubu regarding an extraordinary increase in the Service-Wide Vote (SWV) outlined in the 2026 federal budget. Atiku claims that the SWV soared from N638 billion in 2025 to N12.8 trillion this year, a staggering increase of nearly 1,918 percent, which he labels indicative of fiscal opacity within the government’s budgetary practices.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, highlighted that this significant figure is associated with only ten ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), which together account for 84 percent of the total budget. In a statement from his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, he pointed specifically to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, where N2.19 trillion is allocated to personnel costs—substantially higher than the N54.8 billion designated for salaries at the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The former Vice President raised critical questions regarding the N2.19 trillion allocation, asking, “Who exactly are the workers earning ₦2.19 trillion? Where are they? What offices do they occupy? What agencies do they belong to?” He has termed these figures a “budgetary absurdity,” asserting that they reflect a broader issue of credibility and trust in the government.
Atiku argued that the funds concealed under the SWV outpace combined allocations for essential sectors, including education, defense, and agriculture. He suggested that the administration might be leveraging these funds to support the ruling party’s campaign efforts for the 2027 elections, unless the government can demonstrate full accountability for the expenditures.
Furthermore, he urged the National Assembly to investigate the SWV, particularly the N2.19 trillion personnel costs, demanding a thorough examination of its allocation and the legal authority backing it. Atiku expressed the need for transparency in Nigeria’s budgeting process, saying, “It is time to open the books, expose the truth and restore integrity to Nigeria’s budgeting process.”
