Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has pledged to set up an independent team of experts to investigate the reported disbursement of ₦33.75 billion meant for millions of vulnerable Nigerian households.
The former Vice President made the commitment following concerns raised in an audit report over the whereabouts of funds reportedly allocated to 3.29 million vulnerable households across the country.
According to the report, the money was allegedly disbursed as part of a social intervention programme designed to provide financial support to vulnerable Nigerians. However, questions have emerged regarding whether the beneficiaries actually received the funds.
Atiku said an independent investigation would be necessary to establish what happened to the money, identify the beneficiaries and determine whether the reported payments were genuinely made.
He said the proposed team would comprise professionals with the expertise required to trace the funds and independently verify the claims contained in the audit findings.
The move, according to Atiku, would help provide clarity on the management of public funds and ensure that Nigerians receive credible answers regarding the reported ₦33.75 billion disbursement.
The former presidential candidate also stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the administration of social intervention programmes, particularly those targeted at citizens facing economic hardship.
The controversy comes amid growing public scrutiny of government spending and welfare programmes designed to cushion the effects of economic challenges on vulnerable households.
Atiku’s proposed investigation is expected to focus on the trail of the funds, the process used to identify beneficiaries and whether the 3.29 million households listed in the programme actually received the reported financial support.
If implemented, the independent probe could provide further insight into the audit report and potentially determine whether there were administrative failures, irregularities or gaps in the distribution process.
The development has also renewed calls for stronger monitoring mechanisms around public welfare funds to ensure that financial assistance reaches the people for whom it was intended.
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For Atiku, tracing the ₦33.75 billion is not only about establishing where the money went but also about strengthening public confidence in government intervention programmes and ensuring greater accountability in the management of taxpayers’ resources.
