You’ve no business building N22.15b palaces for monarchs, Atiku flays Tinubu

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration, stating it has no constitutional right to fund the construction and renovation of palaces for traditional rulers. Abubakar described the ₦22.15 billion allocated in the 2026 Appropriation Act for 106 such projects as a "constitutional aberration" and a tool for "illegality and official corruption."

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President Tinubu swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, not to amend it through the Appropriation Act. Traditional institutions are matters within the constitutional competence of state and local governments. A federal budget cannot lawfully be used to assume responsibilities that the Constitution has assigned elsewhere.

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar asserted that the Nigerian Constitution clearly outlines governmental responsibilities and does not grant the Federal Government the authority to fund traditional institutions. "President Tinubu swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, not to amend it through the Appropriation Act. Traditional institutions are matters within the constitutional competence of state and local governments. A federal budget cannot lawfully be used to assume responsibilities that the Constitution has assigned elsewhere," he stated.

Abubakar questioned the constitutional basis for the Federal Government's appropriation of ₦22.15 billion from the Federation Account for these projects. He emphasized that the 1999 Constitution does not establish, fund, or assign executive responsibilities over traditional institutions to the Federal Government. The Constitution's only mention relates to state councils of chiefs advising governors on chieftaincy matters, leaving the creation and funding of traditional institutions to state governments.

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Under which provision of the Constitution is the Federal Government appropriating ₦22.15 billion from the Federation Account for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces? Which Constitution is President Tinubu operating?

Adding to his criticism, Abubakar highlighted the Federal Government's refusal to disclose the identities of the traditional rulers, project locations, and beneficiary communities. He characterized this secrecy as a "blank cheque for corruption," raising suspicions that the projects might exist only on paper and that the intended recipients may never benefit.

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The 1999 Constitution did not establish, fund or assign any executive responsibility over traditional institutions to the Federal Government. Indeed, its only reference to traditional institutions is in the Third Schedule, Part II, where it merely permits states to establish a Council of Chiefs to advise their governors on chieftaincy and customary law matters. Beyond this limited advisory role, the Constitution leaves the creation, administration and funding of traditional institutions to state governments and the laws enacted by their respective Houses of Assembly. President Tinubu cannot, by the instrument of an Appropriation Act, assume powers that the Constitution deliberately withheld from the Federal Government.

Abubakar concluded by stating that a national budget represents more than just financial figures; it is a moral and constitutional document reflecting government priorities. He argued that while royal fathers deserve dignity, they should not be used as instruments to legitimize questionable allocations.

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Our royal fathers deserve dignity and respect. They must not be used as unwilling instruments to legitimise o