I Didn’t Know I Was Actually Being Stupid —Dino Melaye Reacts To Tinubu’s Service-Wide Vote Spending

According to a report by Arise Television on Monday, November 2, 2026, Senator Dino Melaye, a lawyer and Deputy Director-General of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Campaign Council, has questioned the rising allocations to the service-wide vote under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming that more than ₦26 trillion was set aside for the fund between 2024 and 2026.

Melaye raised the concerns during a television interview, where he discussed the growing size of the allocation and called for greater transparency in the management of public funds. He explained that the service-wide vote is a government fund that allows the President to make provisions for certain expenses and responsibilities that may arise during the budget year.

While discussing the history of the allocation, the former senator recalled that the amount increased significantly under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022. According to him, the allocation reached about ₦2 trillion during that period, which he described as the highest level recorded at the time.

However, Melaye argued that the Tinubu administration introduced even larger increases after taking office. He claimed that the allocation rose to more than ₦4 trillion in 2024, representing an increase of approximately ₦2 trillion compared with the previous figure.

He said he had raised concerns about the increase at the time but was surprised when the government approved a much higher amount in the following year.

According to Melaye, the service-wide vote increased from about ₦4 trillion in 2024 to more than ₦9 trillion in 2025. He further claimed that the allocation rose again in 2026, reaching over ₦12 trillion.

Adding the figures together, the ADC chieftain estimated that approximately ₦26 trillion had been allocated to the fund within three years. He questioned the reasons behind the repeated increases, particularly at a time when Nigerians were concerned about government spending and the management of public resources.

Melaye also expressed concern about the accountability of the fund, especially regarding money that was not spent at the end of previous budget periods. He claimed that his research had not shown any evidence of unspent money from the 2024 and 2025 allocations being returned to government accounts.

He stated that he had not seen any amount, even a small sum, returned to government coffers from those allocations.

His comments have brought renewed attention to the size of the service-wide vote and the need for clear information about how the funds are approved, spent and accounted for. However, the figures and claims about unreturned funds were presented by Melaye during the interview.

(Watch the video from 7:09 to 7:12 minutes)

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