Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either sign the Federal Audit Service Bill into law or formally communicate his reasons for withholding assent to the National Assembly within seven days.
The former vice president warned that any further delay in acting on the legislation would amount to a violation of constitutional provisions governing presidential assent to bills.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the continued delay in signing the bill, which seeks to strengthen the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General and improve oversight of public expenditure, undermines transparency and accountability in governance.
He argued that the Constitution does not permit the President to delay indefinitely in taking action on bills passed by the National Assembly.
“Nigerians deserve clarity, not silence. The Constitution neither authorises executive inaction nor contemplates indefinite presidential delay,” the statement said.
Citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Atiku maintained that the President is constitutionally required to either assent to a bill or withhold assent within 30 days of receiving it from the legislature.
He warned that failure to comply with the constitutional provision could weaken public confidence in democratic institutions and encourage a culture of impunity in governance.
The former vice president further alleged that the delay reflected what he described as a broader pattern of disregard for constitutional obligations by the current administration, arguing that selective adherence to the law undermines institutional safeguards and democratic governance.
According to him, constitutional democracy can only thrive when public office holders faithfully discharge both the powers and responsibilities assigned to them under the law.
Atiku also stated that if the President fails to comply with the constitutional requirement governing assent to the bill, he should vacate office.
He noted that under Section 58(5) of the Constitution, the National Assembly has the power to override a presidential veto by securing a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
