Atiku Gives Tinubu Seven‑Day Ultimatum on Audit Bill
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has issued President Bola Tinubu a seven‑day ultimatum to act on the Federal Audit Service Bill or step down from office. He accused the President of ignoring constitutional provisions and eroding institutional accountability.
Atiku, a former Vice President, insisted that Tinubu must either assent to the bill or formally communicate his decision to withhold assent. He stressed that the President cannot leave legislation transmitted by the National Assembly unattended indefinitely.
According to Atiku, the President’s prolonged inaction months after the bill was raised by the National Assembly signals a troubling disregard for the rule of law, constitutional discipline, and transparency in public finance.
He invoked Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states: “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.” Atiku described this provision as a constitutional command, not a discretionary or decorative rule.
The former Vice President warned that treating constitutional timelines as optional creates uncertainty in governance and allows public officers to evade accountability for decisions made in the exercise of their powers.
Atiku highlighted that the Federal Audit Service Bill aims to modernise Nigeria’s audit system, strengthen the independence of the Auditor‑General, and improve oversight of public expenditure. Delaying such accountability legislation, he argued, sends the wrong signal at a time when Nigerians demand greater transparency in the management of public resources.
He linked the current standoff to a broader pattern of institutional weakness, citing the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) as an example of how neglected safeguards can erode public confidence.
Atiku concluded by giving Tinubu seven days to either assent to the Federal Audit Service Bill or formally explain his reasons for withholding assent. He warned that failure to comply within that period should prompt the President to resign voluntarily, asserting that continued silence is incompatible with the constitutional responsibilities of the presidency.
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