Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of concealing trillions of naira in the 2026 federal budget through what he described as an unprecedented increase in the Service-Wide Vote (SWV), demanding full public accountability for the expenditure.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleged that the dramatic rise in the Service-Wide Vote raises serious concerns about fiscal transparency and prudent management of public funds.
In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President noted that the SWV increased from ₦638 billion in the 2025 budget to ₦12.8 trillion in the 2026 appropriation, representing an increase of about 1,918 per cent.
According to him, the allocation is linked to just 10 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), which collectively account for approximately 84 per cent of the entire federal budget.
Atiku argued that the scale of the increase represents one of the most striking examples of fiscal opacity witnessed under Nigeria’s democratic dispensation.
He specifically questioned the allocation made to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, where he claimed ₦2.19 trillion was budgeted for personnel costs.
According to him, the figure far exceeds the ₦54.8 billion allocated for salaries under 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?” Atiku asked.
He described the allocation as budgetary absurdity rather than legitimate fiscal planning.
The former Vice President further argued that the amount concealed under the Service-Wide Vote now surpasses the combined budgetary allocations for critical sectors such as education, defence and agriculture.
He suggested that the lack of clarity surrounding the expenditure could fuel suspicions that the funds are being positioned to support the ruling party’s political activities ahead of the 2027 general election unless the government provides a detailed explanation.
According to Atiku, a government that continues to ask citizens to endure economic hardship cannot at the same time shield trillions of naira behind broad and undefined budgetary headings without undermining public confidence.
He therefore called on the National Assembly to conduct a comprehensive line-by-line investigation into the Service-Wide Vote, particularly the ₦2.19 trillion personnel allocation.
The former Vice President urged lawmakers to compel the Federal Government to disclose the identities of the beneficiaries of the allocation and the legal basis upon which the expenditure was approved.
“It is time to open the books, expose the truth and restore integrity to Nigeria’s budgeting process,” he stated.
