Atiku Tackles FG over N8.05bn Budget Earmarked for Church, Mosque Projects

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Nigerian federal government's proposed 2026 budget, particularly its allocation of approximately N8.05 billion for church and mosque projects. Abubakar expressed grave concern that such significant public funds are earmarked for religious initiatives while millions of Nigerians struggle with poverty, failing public services, and a substantial national debt.

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While faith occupies a sacred place in national life, it must never become a sanctuary for opaque budgeting or questionable public expenditure.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar argued that while faith holds a sacred place in national life, it should not serve as a cover for opaque budgeting or questionable public expenditure. An analysis by the public accountability organization Tracka revealed that N1.91 billion is allocated to church-related projects and N6.14 billion to mosque-related projects.

Abubakar highlighted a critical lack of transparency, noting that under Nigerian law, religious bodies typically operate as Incorporated Trustees with distinct legal identities. He asserted that if public funds are used for projects involving these bodies, Nigerians have a right to know precisely which churches and mosques, and in which communities, these projects will be executed. Unlike public infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals, many of these religious allocations reportedly fail to identify specific beneficiary worship centers, hindering independent verification and raising legitimate concerns about accountability.

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If public funds are appropriated for projects involving such bodies, Nigerians have a right to know exactly which churches, which mosques, and in which communities those projects will be executed.

"While we tread with profound meticulousness in matters that relate to the Almighty, so as not to attract spiritual jabs from the overly sensitive faithful, it is a desecration of faith to commit public funds in God’s name while withholding the information that would enable citizens to verify where their money is going," Abubakar stated. He cautioned that the government cannot use the sanctity of religion to evade the openness standards required in managing public resources, accusing the current administration of crossing a "moral red line" by involving religious institutions in opaque budgeting.

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it is a desecration of faith to commit public funds in God’s name while withholding the information that would enable citizens to verify where their money is going.

Abubakar demanded that the Presidency immediately publish the names of every beneficiary institution, project location, implementing agency, and the legal basis for these allocations. He warned that anything less would reinforce the perception that religion is being exploited as a convenient cover for diverting public resources and urged the administration to resist the temptation of involving religious leaders in such budgeting practices.

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The Tinubu administration has crossed the moral red line by dragging the altar and the minbar into the marketplace of opaque budgeting.