The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Federal Government of fiscal mismanagement, saying recent comments by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have exposed serious concerns over budget implementation and security funding.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said the revelations help explain why insecurity has continued to worsen across the country.
Atiku said he could not remain silent while Nigerians continued to lose their lives under what he described as an administration that had normalised hardship and bloodshed.
According to him, Senator Monguno’s remarks validate concerns the opposition has consistently raised over budget implementation, transparency in public finances and the release of funds for security agencies.
He noted that the APC had previously dismissed similar concerns from opposition parties as political attacks, but said the questions raised by one of its own senior lawmakers have now brought the issues into sharper focus.
The ADC presidential candidate pointed out that Monguno questioned whether duly approved budgets were being implemented as passed by the National Assembly and why revenue generated by the Federation was allegedly being retained instead of being shared in line with constitutional provisions.
Atiku also highlighted the senator’s concerns that key security agencies had reportedly not received capital allocations despite the country’s worsening security challenges.
Describing the issues as constitutional rather than partisan, Atiku argued that if funds approved by law for security agencies were withheld, the government must take responsibility for the consequences.
He questioned how security personnel could effectively combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping without adequate funding for equipment, intelligence gathering, logistics and operational support.
