SERAP Demands Probe of N1.3bn Budget Allocation to ‘Non-Existent’ Presidential Council

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to explain how more than N1.3 billion was allocated in the 2026 Appropriation Act to a presidential council that the Presidency has described as non-existent.

In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, SERAP asked Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to release certified records relating to the approval of N1,302,978,784 allocated to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, in the 2026 budget.

The civic organisation also urged both presiding officers to invoke the National Assembly’s investigative powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution to determine how the allocation found its way into the budget and identify anyone responsible for any irregularity.

The request, signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, followed the Presidency’s public declaration that the council was never established by the Federal Government, despite the allocation appearing in the Appropriation Act.

SERAP said the conflicting positions had raised serious concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s budget process, legislative oversight and public financial accountability.

According to the organisation, the National Assembly should make available certified documents showing how the allocation was considered and approved, the lawmakers who handled it, as well as the public officials or representatives who appeared before relevant committees to defend the budget proposal.

It also requested clarification on whether the allocation was contained in the Executive’s original budget proposal or inserted during the legislative process.

SERAP further asked the National Assembly to disclose whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status or operational mandate of the council before the appropriation was passed and what action, if any, was taken in response.

“Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that was not lawfully established and, if so, how this occurred,” the organisation stated.

It argued that the legislature has a constitutional duty not only to approve government spending but also to thoroughly scrutinise every budget proposal before authorising the release of public funds.

“The Nigerian Constitution places significant responsibilities on the National Assembly in relation to the appropriation process. These constitutional duties require the National Assembly not merely to approve the Executive’s budget proposals, but to scrutinise, debate and authorise public expenditure in line with the Constitution,” SERAP said.

The organisation maintained that making the requested documents public would strengthen confidence in the National Assembly and enhance transparency in the management of public resources.

SERAP gave the Senate President and the Speaker seven days to respond to its request, warning that it would institute legal proceedings if the information was not released within the stipulated period.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days… If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest,” it said.

The organisation also cited the Freedom of Information Act, the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments, arguing that public institutions have a legal obligation to disclose information relating to the expenditure of public funds and matters of significant public interest.

The controversy stems from reports that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received an allocation of over N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act. However, the Presidency, in a statement issued on July 1, insisted that the body is fictitious and was never created by the Federal Government.