Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has given President Bola Tinubu seven days to either sign the Federal Audit Service Bill into law or formally notify the National Assembly of his decision to withhold assent.
The former vice president warned that failure to do either would amount to a breach of the Constitution, adding that the president should step down if he continues to ignore the law.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused Tinubu of violating the 1999 Constitution by failing to act on the bill months after it was forwarded by the National Assembly.
He argued that the president’s continued silence undermines democratic governance and weakens public accountability.
“Nigerians deserve clarity, not silence. The Constitution does not permit executive inaction or indefinite delay. Continued failure to act only deepens concerns that constitutional duties are being sacrificed for executive convenience,” the statement said.
Atiku cited Section 58(4) of the Constitution, which requires the president to either assent to a bill or communicate his refusal within 30 days of receiving it.
“That provision is not optional. It is a constitutional requirement. The framers of the Constitution never intended for a president to sit indefinitely on legislation while governance is left in uncertainty,” he said.
The Federal Audit Service Bill is designed to strengthen the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General, modernise Nigeria’s public audit system and improve oversight of public spending.
According to Atiku, delaying a bill aimed at promoting transparency and accountability sends the wrong message at a time when Nigerians expect stronger institutions and better management of public resources.
He also alleged that Tinubu’s handling of the bill reflects a broader pattern of disregard for constitutional provisions.
“Every major scandal begins with a smaller act of institutional neglect. It starts when constitutional provisions are treated as optional, oversight institutions are weakened and those responsible for enforcing the law become comfortable operating outside established rules,” he said.
The former vice president further referred to the controversy surrounding the proposed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, saying it exposed the dangers of weak institutional safeguards and inconsistent official communication.
“The Constitution is one indivisible covenant. Once a president begins treating one constitutional obligation as optional, respect for every other constitutional safeguard is weakened. That is how impunity becomes institutionalised and governance slips into perpetual crisis management,” Atiku stated.
He maintained that constitutional democracy cannot thrive where leaders obey the law selectively.
“The same Constitution that grants extensive powers to the president also imposes clear obligations. Executive authority is not a licence for constitutional indifference. A president who expects citizens to obey the law must be the first to comply with it,” he added.
Section 58(5) of the Constitution allows the National Assembly to override a presidential refusal to assent if the bill is passed again by a two-thirds majority of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Presidency had not responded to Atiku’s remarks as of the time this report was filed.
