SERAP Queries Akpabio, Abbas Over N1.3bn Allocation To Fictitious PFIPC

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LAGOS – 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 publicly ex­plain the inclusion of more than N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropria­tion Act for what it described as a non-existent presidential council.

In a statement, the organi­sation urged the leaders of the National Assembly to urgently release certified true copies of all documents relating to the consideration and approval of the N1,302,978,784 allocation made to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

SERAP urged them to promptly exercise the National Assembly’s constitutional pow­ers under sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian constitution to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation to ‘a fictitious presidential council’ in the 2026 Appropriation Act and to identify anyone responsible for any irregularities.

SERAP also urged them to provide certified copies of re­cords identifying the members of the National Assembly com­mittees that considered the allo­cation and the names and official designations of all public officers or representatives who appeared before those committees to de­fend the proposed allocation.

SERAP further urged them to “clarify whether the allocation formed part of the executive’s original Appropriation Bill or was introduced or amended during the appropriations pro­cess and whether any lawmaker raised concerns or sought clari­fication regarding the legal sta­tus, establishment or operational mandate of the ‘fictitious body’; and the action taken by the Na­tional Assembly in response.

According to reports, the Pres­idential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/ Presidential Economic Advisory Council was allocated over N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act. However, the presidency has publicly stated that the body is fic­titious and was never established by the Federal Government.

In a Freedom of Information request dated July 4, 2026, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organi­sation said, “These conflicting ac­counts raise serious concerns re­garding the integrity of Nigeria’s appropriations process, legisla­tive oversight, public financial management and accountability.

SERAP said, “Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law. The National Assembly ought to keep an eye on what the executive is doing and to keep the presidency and agencies of government in check including before and during the appropria­tion process by thoroughly scru­tinising executive’s budget pro­posals before any authorisation.

According to SERAP, “The Nigerian constitution 1999 [as amended] 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.”

The FoI request, reads in part: “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.

“Providing the requested information would enable Nige­rians to assess whether the Na­tional Assembly discharged its constitutional responsibilities under sections 80, 81, 88 and 89 of the Constitution in scrutinis­ing and approving the allocation.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. 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.”