Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the country’s Federal Audit Service Bill or choose the path of resignation.
In a statement on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, his spokesperson,
Atiku expressed concerns over Tinubu’s continued delay to conclude action on
the Federal Audit Service Bill months after it was transmitted by the National
Assembly.
He described the delay as yet another example of an
administration that appears increasingly indifferent to constitutional
discipline, institutional accountability and the rule of law.
Atiku reminded the President that Section 58(4) of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides
the following: “Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall
within thirty days thereof, signify that he assents or that he withholds
assent.”
“That provision is neither decorative nor discretionary. It
is a constitutional command. The framers of our Constitution never envisaged a
president who would simply sit on legislation indefinitely while governance
drifts without certainty or accountability.”
Atiku said the Federal Audit Service Bill is designed to
modernise Nigeria’s audit architecture, strengthen the independence of the
auditor-general and improve oversight of public expenditure. Despite the
relevance of the bill, Atiku noted that delaying action on legislation sends
the wrong signal at a time when Nigerians are demanding stronger institutions
and greater accountability in public finance.
“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.
“That is why the recent controversy surrounding the
so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) should
not be viewed merely as an isolated episode. Whatever conclusions ongoing
investigations or official processes may ultimately reach, the controversy
exposed the dangers that arise when institutional safeguards are weak, official
narratives conflict and public confidence in governance is allowed to
deteriorate.”
This comes amid controversy which surrounds the
International Monetary Fund revealing N8.8 trillion unaccounted expenditure by
the Tinubu government and the PFIPC scandal.
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