…Says action deserves impeachment
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai has publicly accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of unconstitutionally diverting ₦100 billion every month from the Federation Account for security purposes, without any visible improvement in Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape.
In a blistering interview, El-Rufai—once a political ally of Tinubu—described the secretive deductions as “an impeachable offence,” citing staggering data on nationwide killings and abductions to underline what he called the government’s “complete failure on security”.
“For the last 12 to 18 months, ₦100 billion is being deducted every month from the Federation Account and sent to security agencies. Where is the result? Why is there no improvement? Why are communities being asked to defend themselves if so much is being spent?”, the former governor stated.
He pointed to figures he attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), claiming that over 2.2 million Nigerians were abducted and 615,000 killed in 2024 alone—numbers he said surpass those recorded during the entire eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
The former governor’s intervention, coming at a time of growing national anxiety over insecurity, inflation and public distrust in government, has added fuel to an already smoldering debate over Tinubu’s leadership style and the administration’s fiscal transparency.
While federal authorities have not confirmed or denied the exact amounts mentioned, el-Rufa’i insists the deductions were carried out without legislative appropriation, making them not only undemocratic but illegal. “That money belongs to the Federation—not just the Federal Government. State legislatures are supposed to appropriate their share. None of that happened”, he said.
El-Rufa’i’s attack goes beyond policy critique—it is a direct challenge to Tinubu’s fiscal and constitutional credibility. “₦1.5 trillion has vanished into a black hole of opaque security spending”, he said. “The government is failing Nigerians in real time”.
The former governor, known for his technocratic streak and ideological candour, has been increasingly vocal since leaving office in 2023. Though once expected to feature prominently in Tinubu’s cabinet, he has since emerged as a thorn in the side of the administration—part of what some analysts describe as a brewing alternative power bloc within the ruling elite.
The Federal Government has remained silent on the claims, despite public clamour for an official explanation. Meanwhile, insecurity remains one of the country’s most pressing problems, with kidnappings, banditry, and insurgent violence continuing in nearly every region.
