Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to allocate ₦22.15 billion for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces in the 2026 Appropriation Act, arguing that the expenditure falls outside the constitutional responsibilities of the Federal Government.
In a statement issued on Thursday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the palace projects as constitutionally questionable, warning that the allocations could create opportunities for abuse and lack of accountability.
According to Atiku, the 1999 Constitution clearly defines the responsibilities of the different levels of government and does not assign the Federal Government any role in constructing or renovating palaces belonging to traditional rulers.
He argued that President Bola Tinubu, having sworn to uphold the Constitution, cannot assume responsibilities that are constitutionally reserved for state and local governments through the annual budget. The former vice president maintained that matters relating to traditional institutions remain within the jurisdiction of sub-national governments and should not be funded through federal appropriations.
Atiku challenged the administration to explain the constitutional provision authorising the allocation of public funds for the palace projects.
He noted that while the Constitution recognises the existence of traditional institutions through provisions allowing states to establish Councils of Chiefs for advisory purposes, it does not empower the Federal Government to finance palace construction or renovation. According to him, an Appropriation Act cannot be used to extend federal powers beyond those granted by the Constitution.
Beyond the constitutional questions, Atiku criticised the government’s failure to disclose details surrounding the allocations.
He observed that authorities had not published the identities of the traditional rulers expected to benefit, the locations of the projects or the individual amounts allocated to each palace. According to him, the lack of transparency raises concerns about accountability and creates suspicion that some of the projects may not exist beyond budget documents.
While stressing the importance of respecting Nigeria’s traditional institutions, Atiku said royal fathers should not become instruments for legitimising budgetary allocations that lack openness. He argued that genuine respect for traditional rulers requires transparency in public spending rather than undisclosed allocations made in their names.
The former vice president urged the Presidency, the Budget Office and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately publish comprehensive information relating to the palace projects. He requested the release of the complete list of the 106 palaces, their locations, the amounts earmarked for each project, the constitutional basis for the expenditure and details of the procurement process through which the contracts would be awarded.
According to Atiku, public funds must be managed within constitutional limits and subjected to full public scrutiny. He concluded that the national budget should reflect constitutional governance and accountability, insisting that the nation’s treasury must be administered transparently and in accordance with the law.
