The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to explain how more than ₦1.3 billion was allocated in the 2026 national budget to a presidential council that the Presidency has reportedly declared non-existent.
In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, SERAP demanded full disclosure of documents relating to the approval of the ₦1,302,978,784 budgetary allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also listed in the budget as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
The request, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, also urged the National Assembly leadership to launch an immediate investigation into the controversial allocation.
The anti-corruption organisation asked both chambers of the National Assembly to invoke their constitutional investigative powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution to determine how the allocation was approved and identify any officials responsible for alleged irregularities.
SERAP also requested certified records identifying lawmakers and legislative committees that considered and approved the funding, along with details of government officials who defended the proposed allocation during budget deliberations.
In addition, the group wants the National Assembly to clarify whether the funding formed part of the Executive’s original 2026 Appropriation Bill or was inserted during the legislative process.
The organisation also asked whether lawmakers questioned the legal status, existence or operational mandate of the PFIPC before approving the allocation.
According to SERAP, the request follows conflicting statements regarding the existence of the council.
The organisation noted that although the 2026 Appropriation Act earmarked over ₦1.3 billion for the PFIPC, the Presidency has publicly maintained that the council was never established by the Federal Government and is a fictitious entity.
SERAP argued that the contradiction raises serious concerns about Nigeria’s budgeting process, legislative oversight, accountability and public financial management.
The rights group stressed that lawmakers have a constitutional obligation to carefully scrutinise every budget proposal before approving public spending.
Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law,” SERAP stated.
It added that Nigerians deserve to know whether public funds were appropriated for an agency that does not legally exist and, if so, how such an allocation found its way into the national budget.
According to the organisation, making the requested records public would allow citizens to assess whether the National Assembly fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities during the budget approval process.
SERAP warned that it would institute legal proceedings if the requested information is not released within seven days of receiving the Freedom of Information request.
The organisation maintained that greater transparency would strengthen public confidence in the National Assembly, improve accountability in public finance management and reinforce the integrity of Nigeria’s appropriation process.
It also cited provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, the 1999 Constitution, and Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights agreements, arguing that public institutions are legally required to disclose information of significant public interest, particularly where allegations of financial misconduct or misuse of public resources have emerged.
The latest demand comes amid growing public scrutiny over the controversial budget allocation and renewed calls for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public spending process.
