The Africa Democratic Congress 2027 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has issued a firm seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to either sign the Federal Audit Service Bill into law or publicly notify the National Assembly of his grounds for withholding approval.
Atiku stated that the president ought to step down if he fails to do so.
Additionally, he charged Tinubu with breaking the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by neglecting to take action on the bill within the legally mandated time frame, cautioning that further inaction jeopardises public accountability and democratic governance.
In a statement released on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku claimed that the president’s refusal to approve or reject the law months after the National Assembly transmitted it amounted to a disrespect for the Constitution.
The statement read, “Nigerians deserve clarity, not silence. The constitution neither authorises executive inaction nor contemplates indefinite presidential delay. Continued failure to act only reinforces public concern that constitutional obligations are increasingly being subordinated to executive convenience.”
Speaking further, Atiku through his special assistant cited Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires the president to either sign or refuse to sign any law presented to him within 30 days.
Atiku claimed that the president’s inaction is indicative of a larger pattern of constitutional disrespect in the current administration.
He argued that when leaders selectively follow the law, constitutional governance cannot endure.
Federal Audit Service Bill
The Federal Audit Service Bill is a proposed by the legislation to strengthen the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General, modernize Nigeria’s public audit system, and improve oversight of government spending.
Additionally, the bill aims to improve oversight of public spending, align Nigeria’s audit system with global best practices, and strengthen the institutional and financial independence of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
It seeks to replace the obsolete colonial-era Audit Ordinance of 1956 and establish an autonomous Federal Audit Service and a Federal Audit Board.
Calls For Resignation
In recent times, calls for Tinubu’s resignation from the office of the president has significantly increased following factors including insecurity and economic hardship.
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of “grand corruption,” citing N8.83 trillion in unbudgeted spending that a recent International Monetary Fund consultation report highlighted.
In a statement titled “Grand Corruption: Nigeria’s Greatest Threat” shared via his verified X account on Sunday, Obi claimed the 2025 budget did not capture the reported expenditure, adding that the spending bypassed legislative oversight and administrative scrutiny.
Meanwhile, this according to reports is Peter Obi’s second call for Tinubu’s resignation in few days.
Atiku Reacts
The former vice president also addressed the controversy surrounding the proposed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, claiming that the incident demonstrated the dangers of inadequate institutional protections and uneven official communication.
“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 added.
“The constitution is one indivisible covenant. A president who treats one constitutional obligation as optional inevitably weakens respect for every other constitutional safeguard. That is how impunity gradually becomes institutional culture and governance descends into perpetual crisis management rather than responsible leadership,” Atiku stated.
He added that “The same constitution that confers enormous powers on the president also places clear obligations upon him. Executive authority is not a licence for constitutional indifference. A president who expects citizens to obey the law must himself be the foremost example of obedience to the constitution.”
At the time of report, the presidency had not responded to Atiku’s latest comments .
