Gbajabiamila: Tinubu told to urgently probe N1.3bn allocation to PFIPC

Accountability organisation BudgIT has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the N1.3 billion allocation to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The organization made the call following the Presidency’s position that the agency does not exist.

In a statement issued on Friday, BudgIT questioned how the alleged agency secured office space within the Federal Secretariat, operated several Central Bank of Nigeria accounts, received a budgetary allocation of N1,302,978,784 in the 2026 budget, and reportedly engaged government institutions, development partners and diplomatic missions before concerns were raised over its legitimacy.

According to the organisation, a review of previous Appropriation Acts showed that the PFIPC, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, PEAC, was not listed as a budgeted entity under the Presidency in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets.

It said the agency’s appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Act raised questions about the process through which it was introduced and approved.

BudgIT said the development highlighted longstanding weaknesses in Nigeria’s budgeting process, including unexplained budget insertions, weak legislative oversight and recurring irregularities that undermine transparency and accountability in public spending.

The organisation called for an independent investigation to establish how the purported agency was included in the federal budget, determine whether any public funds had been disbursed, identify all public officials and institutions involved, and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law.

“BudgIT has expressed concern over the N1,302,978,784 allocation to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), in the 2026 Appropriation Act, following the Presidency’s statement that the agency does not exist.

“If the agency was indeed fictitious, how did it secure office space within the Federal Secretariat, operate several Central Bank of Nigeria accounts, receive a budgetary allocation exceeding N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, and engage government institutions, development partners, and diplomatic missions before questions were raised about its legitimacy?,” part of the statement read.