Atiku Abubakar Criticises Tinubu Over ₦1.08 Trillion Allocation to Federal Cooperative College

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised serious concerns about a provision in the 2026 Appropriation Act that earmarks ₦1.08 trillion for the Federal Cooperative College in Oji River, Enugu State, to carry out 2,791 capital projects across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Budget Allocation Described as a Distortion of Public Finance

Atiku described the allocation as evidence that the 2026 budget has been compromised, noting that an independent analysis by Tracka highlighted one of the most troubling cases of budget distortion under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“Nothing exposes the hollowness of that claim more than a budget that turns a federal cooperative college into one of Nigeria’s largest project‑implementing agencies.”

He questioned how an institution created to promote cooperative education could be tasked with executing projects such as roads, drainage systems, solar streetlights, markets, football pitches, dialysis centres, ambulances, water schemes, recycling plants and empowerment programmes nationwide.

Who Authorised This Massive Undertaking?

Atiku asked who decided to transform the cooperative college into a de‑facto ministry, under what legal authority it was changed, who nominated and approved the projects, and who will supervise and be held accountable for their implementation.

Treasury Belongs to the Nigerian People, Not to the Presidency

He stressed that in a constitutional democracy the national treasury belongs to the citizens, not to the President or his associates, and warned that demanding sacrifices from Nigerians while channelling such a huge sum through an institution lacking the capacity undermines claims of fiscal discipline.

“A government that plans to spend ₦1.08 trillion through a cooperative college cannot claim to be fighting waste or promoting fiscal discipline. It looks less like governance and more like a blueprint to defraud Nigerians.”