Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to identify government officials who allegedly received billions of naira in bribes from ministers seeking appointments into his administration.

Atiku’s demand followed allegations by Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, that some ministers paid billions of naira to secure their appointments.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain made the call in a post on his X handle on Friday, questioning who allegedly collected the money and demanding transparency from the Presidency.

“Bola @officialABAT, your campaign spokesman has admitted that ministers paid billions in bribes to secure their appointments. You appointed them, so who received the money? Nigerians deserve names, not silence,” Atiku wrote.

He also criticised the Tinubu administration over the rising cost of living, blaming government policies for the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.

According to him, the alleged withholding of funds from ministries because of a lack of trust in ministers has further compounded the challenges facing the country.

“Your government’s reckless decisions have driven the cost-of-living crisis. And when you withhold funds from ministries because you distrust your own ministers, Nigerians are left paying for a government that has abandoned them,” he added.

Hassan reportedly made the allegations during an interview on Arise News on Thursday while defending the Tinubu administration’s performance ahead of the 2027 general election.

He alleged that some ministerial appointees paid billions of naira to secure their positions and subsequently focused on recovering the money after assuming office.

“A lot of ministers pay billions to be appointed, and the first thing they think of is how to recoup that money after being appointed,” Hassan said.

He added that the alleged practice was not peculiar to the APC administration, claiming that it predated the party’s emergence into government.

“It is the truth about our country and not just APC ministers; it started before the APC,” he said.

Hassan, however, did not identify any minister who allegedly paid for an appointment or disclose the identities of those who purportedly received the payments.

While defending the administration, the APC campaign spokesperson also highlighted government initiatives in the power and education sectors, including funding for electricity meters and the renovation of primary schools and classrooms.

Atiku’s intervention has brought renewed attention to the allegations of monetary inducements in ministerial appointments, with the former vice president insisting that the identities of those involved should be made public.

The bribery claims remain allegations, and the reported statements do not, on their own, establish that any minister paid or any official received such payments.