The position was expressed in a statement released on Thursday by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in response to the palace projects included in the 2026 budget.
According to Atiku, the 1999 Constitution does not entrust the Federal Government with the construction or renovation of traditional institutions’ palaces, stating that such matters are the responsibility of state and local governments.
“President Tinubu took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, not to amend it through the Appropriation Act.” Traditional institutions fall within the constitutional purview of state and local governments. “A federal budget cannot legally be used to assume responsibilities that the Constitution has delegated elsewhere,” he stated.
The former Vice President questioned the legal basis for the allocation, asking the Federal Government to explain the constitutional provision that authorises the expenditure.
“Under what provision of the Constitution is the Federal Government appropriating ₦22.15 billion from the Federation Account for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces?” “Which Constitution is President Tinubu using?” Atiku enquired.
He argued that, while the 1999 Constitution recognises traditional institutions through state-established advisory councils, it does not give the Federal Government the authority to fund or administer palaces.
Atiku also challenged the lack of openness around the projects, claiming that, unlike other public infrastructure projects in the budget, the proposed palace improvements do not clearly identify many of the recipients or their locations.
The government is seeking approval from Nigerians for ₦22.15 billion for 106 palace projects, but is unable to name the beneficiaries or provide location information. Every road, school, hospital, and constituency project in the national budget includes a location.
Why are these initiatives hidden? “That is not budgeting; it is writing a blank cheque for corruption,” he explained.
Atiku further said that the secrecy surrounding the grants creates concerns that the projects may become conduits for misappropriating public monies.
“If these projects are authentic, make public the names of the palaces, traditional rulers, locations, implementing organisations, and contractors. The unwillingness to do so leads Nigerians to just one conclusion: this might be another ingenious conduit for syphoning public monies,” he continued.
The ADC presidential candidate insisted that the statement was not directed at traditional rulers, saying they should not be drawn into what he called constitutionally questionable budgetary allocations.
“Our royal fathers deserve honour and respect.
They must not be used as unwilling tools to justify opaque and constitutionally questionable budgetary allocations. If this administration truly values established institutions, it should cease hiding behind them, he argued.
He urged the Presidency, the Budget Office, and relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to publish complete details about the 106 palace projects, including their locations, beneficiaries, implementing agencies, procurement procedure, and constitutional basis for the expenditure.
“The national treasury is not a Bourdillon-based private vault, and the Appropriation Act does not grant authority 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 refuses to identify the beneficiaries,” Atiku said.