₦22.15bn Palace Projects: Atiku Questions Tinubu’s Constitutional Authority

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the allocation of ₦22.15 billion for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces for traditional rulers, arguing that the Federal Government lacks the constitutional authority to undertake such projects.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described the allocation contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act as a “constitutional aberration” and alleged that the projects could create room for corruption and abuse of public funds.

He made the allegations in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

Atiku argued that the 1999 Constitution does not assign the Federal Government responsibility for the construction, renovation or funding of palaces belonging to traditional institutions.

According to him, the constitutional responsibilities relating to traditional institutions largely fall within the purview of state governments and local authorities.

“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 said.

The former vice president questioned the legal basis for the Federal Government's decision to appropriate ₦22.15 billion for the projects.

“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?” Atiku asked.

He argued that the Constitution's reference to traditional institutions is limited and does not confer executive responsibility for their establishment, administration or funding on the Federal Government.

Atiku cited the Third Schedule, Part II of the Constitution, which provides for state councils of chiefs to advise governors on chieftaincy and customary law matters.

He maintained that beyond such provisions, the creation, administration and funding of traditional institutions are governed by state laws and the 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,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate also raised concerns about the lack of publicly available details on the 106 projects.

He questioned the failure of the Federal Government to disclose the names of the traditional rulers involved, the locations of the palaces, the specific amounts allocated to each project and the communities expected to benefit.

According to Atiku, the absence of such information could create suspicion that some of the projects may exist only on paper, while the traditional rulers named as beneficiaries may never receive the promised facilities.

He urged the Presidency, the Budget Office and relevant ministries, departments and agencies to publish comprehensive details of the projects and explain the constitutional and legal basis for the expenditure.

Atiku also called for the disclosure of the procurement procedures that would be used to execute the projects.

“Our royal fathers deserve dignity and respect. They must not be used as unwilling instruments to legitimise opaque and constitutionally questionable budgetary allocations. If this administration truly respects the traditional institution, it should stop hiding behind it,” he said.

He further argued that the national budget should reflect not only the financial priorities of government but also its constitutional obligations and commitment to transparency.

“The national treasury is not a Bourdillon-based private vault, and the Appropriation Act is not a licence to suspend the Constitution,” Atiku declared.

“No government can claim to uphold the rule of law while appropriating public funds for projects it cannot constitutionally undertake and whose beneficiaries it refuses to identify.”

The former vice president's criticism adds to growing political scrutiny of the Federal Government's 2026 budget and the allocation of public resources to projects involving traditional institutions.

The Presidency and relevant government agencies had yet to publicly respond to Atiku's allegations at the time of filing this report.