Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an independent investigation into allegations that public expenditure estimated at N8.8 trillion was incurred outside Nigeria’s approved budgetary framework.

Joining HURIWA, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described off-budget public expenditure amounting to about N8.8 trillion by the Federal Government as alleged, citing findings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

However, the presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that the latest revelation reinforced his call for the President to resign.

HURIWA described the allegation as a grave threat to fiscal transparency and constitutional governance, warning that the country could not afford to ignore what it termed a national financial emergency.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA noted that the allegation, reportedly contained in the IMF’s Article IV Consultation and highlighted by Atiku required a thorough forensic investigation rather than political exchanges or official denials.

According to the organisation, if the reports are confirmed, they would represent one of the most serious cases of fiscal opacity in Nigeria’s democratic history.

The group also faulted the response attributed to a minister, describing it as inadequate in view of the weight of the allegations.

HURIWA said Nigerians deserved a detailed public explanation supported by documentary evidence showing the legal authority, appropriation approvals, expenditure records and audit trail for every fund allegedly spent outside the approved budget.

It urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) and other oversight agencies to commence coordinated forensic investigations into the matter.

IN a statement at the weekend, Atiku alleged that Tinubu’s administration had executed projects outside the country’s statutory budget framework, a development he said undermined fiscal transparency and accountability.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate based his claims on the IMF’s latest Article IV consultation on Nigeria, referencing comments attributed to the Fund’s Resident Representative, Christian Ebeke, which he said indicated that government projects worth about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) were undertaken outside the official budget.

Atiku described the development as “the most consequential act of fiscal impunity in Nigeria’s recent democratic history,” urging the National Assembly, civil society organisations, (CSOs) the media and other democratic institutions to investigate the matter.

OBI, in a statement entitled ‘Grand Corruption: Nigeria’s Greatest Threat’, Obi also cited the IMF report, alleging that the Federal Government incurred N8.83 trillion in expenditure that was neither appropriated by the National Assembly nor subjected to administrative scrutiny.

Describing the development as “horrible”, Obi said the alleged off-budget spending represented one of the gravest indications yet of “grand corruption” under the Tinubu administration.

According to him, the figure is equivalent to about two per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, accounts for more than 35 per cent of the country’s N23.96 trillion capital budget for 2025, and exceeds the combined federal allocations to education and health.

“About N8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget. This expenditure is not budgeted and is therefore not under legislative oversight or administrative scrutiny. This is horrible,” Obi declared.

The former governor of Anambra State called on Nigerians to lawfully demand transparency and accountability, insisting that democratic institutions must not remain silent in the face of what mounting evidence of fiscal abuse.

The Presidency had not issued a response to Obi’s allegations at the time of filing this report.