Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to either assent to the Federal Audit Service Bill in line with the Constitution or resign from office, accusing the President of disregarding the rule of law and undermining institutional accountability.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, expressed concern over what he described as the President's failure to take action on the bill several months after it was transmitted to him by the National Assembly.
The former Vice President argued that the Constitution clearly prescribes the timeframe within which the President must act on any bill forwarded for presidential assent.
Citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Atiku noted that, "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."
He maintained that the constitutional provision was mandatory and not subject to the President's discretion.
"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.
He explained that the Federal Audit Service Bill was intended to modernise Nigeria's audit system, strengthen the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and enhance oversight of public expenditure.
According to him, delaying action on legislation aimed at promoting transparency and accountability sends the wrong signal at a time Nigerians are demanding stronger institutions and prudent management of public resources.
The former Vice President warned that failure to comply with constitutional provisions could weaken democratic institutions and erode public confidence in governance.
"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 boundaries," he stated.
Atiku called on President Tinubu to uphold the Constitution by taking immediate action on the Federal Audit Service Bill, insisting that respect for the rule of law remains essential to democratic governance and accountability.
