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 over ₦1.3 billion was allocated in the 2026 Appropriation Act to a presidential council the Presidency has described as non-existent.
In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP demanded certified copies of all documents relating to the approval of the ₦1,302,978,784 allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also listed in the budget as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
The rights group also urged the National Assembly to invoke its investigative powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to probe the circumstances surrounding the allocation and identify those responsible for any irregularities.
SERAP requested records identifying the lawmakers and committees that approved the allocation, as well as the public officials who appeared before the committees to defend the proposed budget. It also sought clarification on whether the allocation was included in the Executive’s original 2026 Appropriation Bill or inserted during the legislative process.
According to the organisation, the request follows conflicting claims over the existence of the council, noting that while the 2026 Appropriation Act earmarked more than ₦1.3 billion for the PFIPC, the Presidency has publicly stated that the body was never established and is fictitious.
SERAP argued that the contradiction raises serious concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s budget process, legislative oversight, public financial management, and accountability.
“The National Assembly has a constitutional duty not only to approve budgets but also to thoroughly scrutinise Executive proposals before authorising public spending,” the organisation stated, adding that Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that was not lawfully established.
The group maintained that making the requested documents public would enable citizens to determine whether the legislature fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities in approving the allocation.
SERAP warned that it would institute legal proceedings if the requested information is not provided within seven days of receiving the FoI request.
The organisation added that disclosing the records would strengthen public confidence in the National Assembly, improve transparency in the appropriations process, and promote greater accountability in the management of public resources.
