The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to disclose documents relating to the approval of more than ₦1.3 billion allocated to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The rights organisation also urged the National Assembly to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation, following the Presidency’s public statement that the council does not exist.
In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation requested certified copies of all records relating to the consideration and approval of the ₦1,302,978,784 allocation.
SERAP further asked the National Assembly to identify the lawmakers on the committees that considered the budget provision, as well as the public officials or representatives who appeared before the committees to defend the proposed allocation.
The organisation also requested clarification on whether the allocation was contained in the Executive’s original Appropriation Bill or introduced during the legislative budget process. It asked whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status or operational mandate of the council before the budget was approved.
According to SERAP, the Presidency’s denial that the PFIPC/Presidential Economic Advisory Council exists has raised concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s budget process and public financial management.
“These conflicting accounts raise serious concerns regarding the integrity of Nigeria’s appropriations process, legislative oversight, public financial management and accountability,” the organisation said.
SERAP argued that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility not only to approve government spending but also to thoroughly scrutinise budget proposals before authorising the expenditure of public funds.
“The Nigerian Constitution places significant responsibilities on the National Assembly in relation to the appropriation process,” the group stated. “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 organisation said Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that was never lawfully established.
“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,” SERAP said.
It added that disclosing the requested records would enable citizens to determine whether the National Assembly fulfilled its constitutional oversight responsibilities under Sections 80, 81, 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
SERAP gave the National Assembly seven days to provide the requested information, warning that it would initiate legal action if the request is ignored.
“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,” the organisation said.
SERAP also cited the Freedom of Information Act, the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to support its demand for access to the records.
The controversy follows reports that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received over ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
NPO reports that there were allegations linking the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, to an appointment for cash scandal.
The allegations emerged after one Adeniyi Matthew, who claimed to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, accused Gbajabiamila of demanding billions of naira from a government agency’s take-off grant.
Matthew alleged that Gbajabiamila requested N27.4bn and collected N400m through intermediaries to facilitate his appointment as director-general, with an outstanding balance of N200m.