Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Failing Fiscal Transparency Test, Suffocating Nigerians with Excessive Taxation

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the current administration's excessive taxation, which is causing immense suffering for Nigerians and businesses alike. He accused the Tinubu administration of failing to address the substance of the United States assessment of Nigeria's fiscal transparency, instead dismissing it as an "external benchmark."

Atiku argued that Nigeria's failure to meet minimum fiscal transparency requirements is not the fault of the assessment, but of the government itself. He pointed out that 70.8% of business respondents identified high and multiple taxation as their biggest constraint. Despite this, the administration offers tax relief to major oil operators.

Atiku also demanded transparency from the government regarding the usage of funds from the removal of fuel subsidies, which has been promised for over three years. He urged the Tinubu administration to open the books and publish a detailed account of how the subsidy savings were spent. Atiku challenged the government to prove its transparency, suggesting that if the U.S. assessment is inaccurate, it should be disproved with records, and if it is incomplete, the missing pieces should be filled in with actual financial accounts.

He emphasized that Nigerians have endured enough hardship and implored Tinubu to stop explaining and start accounting. Atiku warned that another four years of failure under the Tinubu government would be unacceptable, emphasizing that Nigeria cannot continue to suffer under a government that fails to deliver genuine reform.