The 2027 African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to explain what he described as a suspicious increase in the Service-Wide Vote (SWV) contained in the 2026 federal budget, alleging that trillions of naira have been hidden under opaque spending provisions.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice President claimed that the Service-Wide Vote rose from N638 billion in the 2025 budget to N12.8 trillion in 2026, representing an increase of about 1,918 per cent.
According to Atiku, the dramatic rise raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
He noted that the allocation is tied to just 10 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), which, according to him, account for about 84 per cent of the entire federal budget.
Queries N2.19trn Personnel Allocation
Atiku specifically questioned the N2.19 trillion earmarked as personnel costs under the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, arguing that the figure was difficult to justify when compared with the N54.8 billion budgeted for salaries at the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“Who exactly are the workers earning ₦2.19 trillion? Where are they? What offices do they occupy? What agencies do they belong to?” he asked.
He described the allocation as a “budgetary absurdity” rather than a legitimate expenditure.
Raises Concerns Over Possible Misuse
The former vice president argued that the amount set aside under the Service-Wide Vote exceeds the combined allocations to key sectors such as education, defence and agriculture.
He said the lack of clarity surrounding the spending could fuel public suspicion that the funds were being positioned for political purposes, including financing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
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According to him, any government asking Nigerians to endure economic hardship should not conceal trillions of naira under broad and undefined budget headings.
Calls for National Assembly Investigation
Atiku urged the National Assembly to conduct a detailed investigation into the Service-Wide Vote, particularly the N2.19 trillion personnel allocation, and compel the government to disclose those expected to benefit from the funds and the legal basis for the expenditure.
“It is time to open the books, expose the truth and restore integrity to Nigeria’s budgeting process,” he said.
The latest statement comes weeks after Atiku called on the National Assembly to investigate alleged duplicate allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act and demanded a probe into the funding of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), among other budget-related concerns.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.