Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to either comply with constitutional provisions by acting on the Audit Service Bill or resign from office, accusing the administration of undermining the rule of law and institutional accountability.
In a statement released in Abuja on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticised the President for failing to conclude action on the Federal Audit Service Bill months after it was transmitted by the National Assembly.
According to Atiku, Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly requires the President to either assent to a bill or communicate his decision to withhold assent within 30 days of receiving it.
He argued that the constitutional provision is mandatory and not optional.
“That provision is neither decorative nor discretionary. It is a constitutional command. The framers of our Constitution never envisaged a President who would simply sit on legislation indefinitely while governance drifts without certainty or accountability,” the statement read.
The former Vice President noted that the Audit Service Bill is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s public financial oversight by modernising the country’s audit system, reinforcing the independence of the Auditor-General and improving accountability in the management of public funds.
He warned that delaying action on legislation designed to enhance transparency sends the wrong signal at a time when Nigerians are demanding stronger institutions and improved governance.
Atiku further argued that institutional neglect often creates conditions for larger governance failures, maintaining that constitutional obligations should never be treated as optional.
Drawing attention to the recent controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), he said the episode highlighted broader concerns about weak institutional safeguards, conflicting official narratives and declining public confidence in government processes.
According to him, regardless of the outcome of ongoing investigations into the PFIPC controversy, the incident demonstrates the dangers of failing to strengthen oversight institutions responsible for protecting public resources.
He warned that ignoring constitutional timelines and delaying reforms aimed at improving accountability could erode public trust and weaken respect for other constitutional provisions.
Atiku therefore issued a seven-day ultimatum, urging President Tinubu to fulfil his constitutional obligation by either assenting to the Audit Service Bill or formally notifying the National Assembly and Nigerians of his reasons for withholding assent.
He added that if neither action is taken within the stipulated period, the President should voluntarily resign from office.
