Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called for accountability following a disclosure by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that public expenditure equivalent to two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was reportedly excluded from recent federal budgets.

Atiku described the IMF’s finding as evidence of what he called a deeply rooted system of institutional corruption under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president argued that the IMF’s revelation, coming amid the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), raises fresh concerns about transparency in the management of public finances.

He maintained that the government must explain how expenditure amounting to two per cent of the country’s GDP was incurred outside the approved budget framework, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know who authorised, approved and benefited from the spending.

According to Atiku, the issue goes beyond an accounting error and constitutes a constitutional, legal and ethical matter. He cited Section 80 of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund must be authorised through appropriation by the National Assembly.

The former vice president further argued that the IMF’s disclosure strengthens concerns that the PFIPC controversy was not an isolated case but part of what he described as a broader pattern of abuse within public institutions.

He also questioned reports that the Federal Ministry of Health received only ₦36 million for critical health interventions despite having a budgetary allocation of more than ₦218 billion, while the PFIPC—an agency the Presidency has reportedly denied exists—was allegedly allocated about ₦1.3 billion.

Atiku said the reported disparity reflects misplaced priorities, alleging that essential sectors such as healthcare have been underfunded while questionable entities were allegedly provided with public funds.

He insisted that until those responsible for the alleged off-budget expenditure are identified and held accountable, the administration’s claims of transparency would remain unconvincing.