Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to either obey the rule of law by acting on the Federal Audit Service Bill or resign from office. He recently had his say via a press statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in Abuja.
Expressing concern that Tinubu had failed to conclude action on the bill months after it was transmitted by the National Assembly, Atiku accused the president of indifference to constitutional discipline and institutional accountability.
Stressing that the Federal Audit Service Bill was designed to modernise Nigeria’s audit architecture, Abubakar added that delaying action on legislation meant to reinforce transparency sends the wrong message to Nigerians.
His words, “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.
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.
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 clear boundaries.
If constitutional timelines can be ignored without consequence, if accountability legislation can remain unattended beyond the period contemplated by the Constitution, and if institutions responsible for safeguarding public resources are denied the reforms they require, then no Nigerian should be surprised when controversies emerge over public institutions, government approvals and official processes.”
