The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to explain how more than ₦1.3 billion was appropriated in the 2026 budget for 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 urged the National Assembly leadership to release 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 referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The organisation also called on both presiding officers to invoke the investigative powers of the National Assembly under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution to determine how the allocation was made and identify those responsible for what it described as apparent irregularities.
SERAP requested certified records identifying the committees that considered the allocation, the lawmakers involved, and the public officials or representatives who defended the proposed expenditure during the budget process.
It further sought clarification on whether the allocation originated from the Executive’s Appropriation Bill or was inserted during legislative consideration, and whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status or operational mandate of the council before the budget was passed.
The request follows reports that the PFIPC received over ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 budget, despite a statement by the Presidency on July 1 denying that such a body exists or was ever established by the Federal Government.
Describing the conflicting accounts as a serious threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s budget process, SERAP said the development raised concerns over legislative oversight, public financial management and accountability.
“The National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility not merely to approve budget proposals but to thoroughly scrutinise and authorise public expenditure in accordance with the Constitution,” the organisation said.
It stressed that Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that lacks legal existence and, if so, how such an allocation was approved.
According to SERAP, disclosure of the requested documents would enable citizens to assess whether the National Assembly fulfilled its constitutional obligations under Sections 80, 81, 88 and 89 of the Constitution during the appropriation process.
The organisation gave the Senate President and the Speaker seven days to provide the requested information, warning that it would commence legal proceedings if they failed to comply.
SERAP argued that releasing the records would strengthen public confidence in the National Assembly, promote transparency in the management of public resources and reinforce accountability in the budget process.
The organisation also cited the Freedom of Information Act, the Nigerian Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Tshwane Principles, all of which, it said, support citizens’ right to access information concerning public expenditure and the conduct of public institutions.
It maintained that public institutions have a duty to disclose information of significant public interest, particularly where there are credible allegations of misuse of public funds or abuse of office.
SERAP insisted that full disclosure would advance transparency, strengthen legislative accountability and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s appropriations process.
