Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the Federal Government over the ₦22.15 billion earmarked in the 2026 Appropriation Act for the construction and renovation of 106 traditional rulers’ palaces, insisting that the expenditure has no constitutional backing.
Atiku described the allocation as constitutionally questionable and called on the Presidency to explain the legal basis for using federal funds on projects he said fall under the responsibility of state and local governments.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President argued that President Bola Tinubu cannot expand the powers of the Federal Government through the national budget.
“President Bola Tinubu swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, not to expand federal powers through the Appropriation Act. The Constitution is clear on the distribution of governmental responsibilities, and traditional institutions are not among the functions assigned to the Federal Government,” Atiku said.
He challenged the Presidency to identify the constitutional provision authorising the Federal Government to undertake the construction and renovation of traditional rulers’ palaces.
“Under which provision of the Constitution is the Federal Government undertaking the construction and renovation of 106 palaces? Which constitutional authority is being relied upon for this expenditure?” he asked.
According to Atiku, the 1999 Constitution only makes limited provision for traditional institutions under the Third Schedule, where states may establish Councils of Chiefs to advise governors on chieftaincy and customary matters.
He maintained that the creation, administration and funding of traditional institutions remain the exclusive responsibility of state governments.
The former Vice President also faulted the Federal Government for failing to disclose the identities of the traditional rulers, the locations of the projects and the communities expected to benefit from the palace renovations.
“Government is asking Nigerians to approve ₦22.15 billion for 106 palace projects, yet it has not identified the beneficiaries or the locations of the projects. Every road, school, hospital and constituency project in the national budget carries a location. Why are these projects being hidden from public scrutiny?” he queried.
Atiku said the secrecy surrounding the projects had created legitimate doubts over their existence and implementation.
He urged the Federal Government to immediately publish the names of the palaces, their locations, contractors, implementing agencies and the amount allocated to each project.
“If these projects are genuine, the government should publish the names of the palaces, the traditional rulers involved, their locations, the implementing agencies and the contractors. Transparency is the minimum requirement in the management of public funds,” he said.
The former Vice President stressed that his criticism was not directed at traditional rulers but at what he described as opaque budgetary practices.
“Our royal fathers deserve dignity and respect. They should not be drawn into opaque and constitutionally questionable budgetary arrangements. If this administration truly respects the traditional institution, it should stop hiding behind it,” he added.
He further called on the Presidency, the Budget Office and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to disclose the constitutional basis for the expenditure, the procurement process and all details relating to the palace projects.
“The national treasury is not a 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.
