Former VP Warns President Can’t “Sit on Legislation” While Nigeria Drifts Without Accountability
In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown down the gauntlet to President Bola Tinubu: sign the Federal Audit Service Bill within seven days, publicly explain your refusal, or resign from office.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused Tinubu of “constitutional indifference” for allegedly sitting on the crucial anti-corruption legislation months after it was transmitted by the National Assembly.
“This Is Not Optional” — Atiku Cites Constitutional Mandate
In a blistering statement released Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku invoked Section 58(4) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which mandates that the President must signify assent or withhold it within 30 days of receiving a bill.
“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.”
What the Federal Audit Service Bill Would Do
The proposed legislation aims to:
· Modernize Nigeria’s audit architecture
· Strengthen the independence of the Auditor-General
· Improve oversight of public expenditure
Atiku warned that delaying reforms designed to reinforce transparency “sends the wrong message at a time when Nigerians are demanding stronger institutions.”
Red Flag Warning: “Every Scandal Begins with Neglect”
Drawing a direct line to the recent controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Atiku cautioned:
“Every major scandal begins with a smaller act of institutional neglect. It begins when constitutional provisions are treated as optional, when oversight institutions are weakened, and when those entrusted with enforcing the law become comfortable operating outside its clear boundaries.”
He argued that regardless of what ongoing investigations reveal about PFIPC, the episode already exposes “the dangers of weak institutional safeguards, conflicting official narratives, and declining public confidence in governance.”
The Ultimatum: 7 Days to Comply or Quit
Atiku gave President Tinubu a strict seven-day deadline to:
1. Assent to the Federal Audit Service Bill, OR
2. Formally communicate his reasons for withholding assent to the National Assembly and Nigerians, OR
3. Voluntarily quit office
“If constitutional timelines can be ignored without consequence, if accountability legislation can remain unattended beyond the period contemplated by the Constitution, and if institutions responsible for safeguarding public resources are denied the reforms they require, then no Nigerian should be surprised when controversies emerge.”
The Bigger Picture
Atiku’s challenge comes amid growing scrutiny of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transparency and institutional accountability. The former Vice President warned that “treating one constitutional obligation as optional inevitably weakens respect for every other constitutional safeguard.”
