‘Blank cheque for corruption’, Atiku hits Tinubu over multi-billion naira palace allocation

Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has described the Tinubu administration’s allocation of ₦22.15 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces across Nigeria as a constitutional aberration. A document released by a public accountability organisation, Tracka – an initiative of the BudgIT Foundation – […]

Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has described the Tinubu administration’s allocation of ₦22.15 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces across Nigeria as a constitutional aberration.

A document released by a public accountability organisation, Tracka – an initiative of the BudgIT Foundation – revealed that a total of N22.15 billion was earmarked for renovation and furnishing of 106 palaces nationwide.

The huge allocations for maintenance and construction of palaces at a time when critical sectors such as health and education are begging for attention have raised concerns over government spending amid a N31.45 trillion budget deficit and rising debt obligations.

Findings by Daily Trust in previous related reports have shown that in most cases, lawmakers insert these projects into the budget lines of MDAs that lack the statutory mandate to execute them.

An extensive review of the budget document released by Tracka on Wednesday exposed widespread accountability loopholes, showing that 11 palace projects worth N5.85 billion have no identified physical locations, making public tracking and oversight impossible.

Also, none of the 45 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) saddled with executing these multi-billion-naira palace projects possesses the legal or statutory mandate to construct royal structures.

Instead, the federal government routed billions of naira meant for palaces through completely unrelated research institutes, agricultural colleges, and specialised health facilities, bypassing standard procurement scrutiny.

Among the allocations, the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan in Oyo State was tasked with executing a N2.661 billion project for the “renovation of community halls and palaces in selected central communities in FNRP Lagos” under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, alongside a N350 million project across six local government areas in Ekiti South, and a N210 million allocation in Ondo South.

The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja, was earmarked N1.54 billion under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the “modernisation and furnishing of some selected national heritage palaces in communities across Nigeria.”

The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Lagos, was allocated projects totalling N3.92 billion, including N1 billion for pavilions and solar power at Oluyin Palace in Iyin Ekiti; N525 million for a palace hall at Ojo, Lagos; N337.13 million at Itire Ikate; N315 million for the Agbana of Isanlu palace in Kogi State; N315 million for the Ologidi Central Palace in Ogidi; N175 million for Ootunja Palace in Ikole LGA, Ekiti State; and N140 million for Otosho of Agbashi Palace in Nasarawa State.

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria was designated to handle N750 million for the completion and furnishing of the Olu-Adde Palace of Ekinrin Adde, Akinrin Palace in Ekinrin Adde, Obaro Kabba Palace, and Olujumu Palace in Iyara, Kogi State. The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOURS) was allocated N700 million for palaces and offices in Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State.

The National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, was slotted for N560 million for Emirs’ palaces in Zone B, Niger State; N350 million for the Etsu Nupe Palace in Bida; and N175 million in Obokun/Oriade, Osun State.

The Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, captured N595 million for palace houses in the Niger Delta, and N210 million for the Olu Gbede Central Palace in Ijumu LGA, Kogi State.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear and unambiguous on the distribution of governmental responsibilities and does not confer on the Federal Government the responsibility for constructing or renovating palaces belonging to traditional institutions.

“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.”

Atiku said the constitutional breach is compounded by the refusal of the Federal Government to disclose the identities of the traditional rulers, the locations of the projects and the communities where the palaces are supposedly to be renovated.

“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 noted that the secrecy surrounding the allocations creates the legitimate suspicion that the projects exist only on paper and that even the traditional rulers in whose names the funds were appropriated may never benefit from them.

“The Nigerian people—not politically convenient projects—must remain the centerpiece of every national budget. Unfortunately, under the Tinubu administration, fiscal appropriations appear to have elevated official corruption above public service. That explains why, despite trillions of naira appropriated since 2023, Nigerians have seen deteriorating decline in standard of living threshold. Hunger has deepened, inflation remains crushing, insecurity persists, industries are shutting down and purchasing power continues to decline.”

Atiku called on the Presidency, the Budget Office and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to immediately publish the complete list of the 106 palaces, their locations, the amounts allocated to each project, the constitutional basis for the expenditure and the procurement process through which the contracts will be awarded.