Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government’s allocation of ₦22.15 billion for the construction and renovation of 106 traditional rulers’ palaces in the 2026 Appropriation Act, describing it as unconstitutional.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the Federal Government has no constitutional responsibility for funding projects related to traditional institutions.
He maintained that President Bola Tinubu, having sworn to uphold the Constitution, cannot use the Appropriation Act to assume powers not granted to the Federal Government.
According to Atiku, matters relating to traditional institutions fall within the jurisdiction of state and local governments, making the federal allocation for palace projects a constitutional violation.
He questioned the legal basis for appropriating ₦22.15 billion from the Federation Account for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces, asking under which provision of the 1999 Constitution such expenditure is authorised.
The former vice president noted that the Constitution only references traditional institutions in the Third Schedule, where it empowers states to establish Councils of Chiefs to advise governors on chieftaincy and customary law matters.
Beyond that advisory role, he said the creation, administration and funding of traditional institutions remain the exclusive responsibility of state governments and their Houses of Assembly.
Atiku also criticised the Federal Government for failing to disclose the identities of the traditional rulers, the locations of the proposed palace projects and the specific amounts allocated to each, describing the lack of transparency as a breeding ground for corruption.
He argued that the secrecy surrounding the projects raises concerns about whether the allocations are genuine or merely exist on paper, adding that the intended beneficiaries may never receive the funds.
Describing the national budget as both a financial and constitutional document, Atiku said traditional rulers deserve respect and should not be used to legitimise what he called opaque and constitutionally questionable expenditures.
He called on the Presidency, the Budget Office and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to immediately publish the full list of the 106 palace projects, their locations, individual allocations, the constitutional basis for the expenditure and details of the procurement process.
Atiku insisted that the national treasury must be managed in accordance with the Constitution, stressing that no government can claim to uphold the rule of law while appropriating public funds for projects outside its constitutional mandate.