Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to act on the long-pending Federal Audit Service Bill, warning that continued silence would amount to a breach of the Constitution.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, Atiku handed the President a seven-day ultimatum, insisting that Tinubu must either sign the bill into law or officially inform the National Assembly of his reasons for declining assent.
The 2027 presidential hopeful argued that if the President fails to do either within the period, he should step down from office for failing to uphold the constitutional responsibilities attached to his position.
The statement, issued by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused the Tinubu administration of ignoring a clear constitutional requirement by leaving the legislation unattended months after lawmakers transmitted it for presidential action.
Atiku anchored his argument on Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires a president to either approve or reject any bill presented by the National Assembly within 30 days.
According to him, the constitutional provision leaves no room for indefinite delay.
He argued that the law does not recognise executive silence as an option, stressing that Nigerians deserve certainty over legislation already passed by their elected representatives.
Atiku maintained that constitutional obligations cannot be treated as matters of convenience, warning that allowing such delays weakens democratic institutions and erodes public confidence in governance.
Why The Audit Bill Matters
The former vice president noted that the Federal Audit Service Bill was introduced to strengthen the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, improve oversight of public finances and modernise Nigeria’s audit system in line with international standards.
He argued that withholding action on legislation designed to promote accountability sends the wrong message at a time when Nigerians are demanding greater transparency in government spending.
According to Atiku, stronger oversight institutions are essential to tackling corruption and ensuring prudent management of public resources.
Beyond the bill itself, Atiku said the President’s inaction reflects what he described as a broader pattern of constitutional disregard by the current administration.
Also Read: Police tighten security around Aso Rock ahead of planned protest by retired officers
He warned that democratic systems begin to weaken when constitutional provisions are ignored and oversight institutions are allowed to lose their independence.
The former vice president also referenced the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), arguing that recent developments involving the disputed agency demonstrated the dangers of weak institutional safeguards and inconsistent government communication.
He maintained that constitutional democracy can only thrive when leaders obey the same laws they expect citizens to respect.
National Assembly Has Constitutional Option
While criticising the President’s delay, Atiku pointed out that the Constitution also provides a remedy where presidential assent is withheld.
Under Section 58(5) of the Constitution, the National Assembly can override a presidential veto if both the Senate and the House of Representatives pass the bill again with a two-thirds majority.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had yet to respond to Atiku’s remarks or clarify the status of the Federal Audit Service Bill.