The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the National Assembly to disclose all records 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.
In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to release certified copies of all documents linked to the allocation of ₦1,302,978,784 to the council.
SERAP also called on the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation and identify anyone responsible for any irregularities.
The organisation requested records identifying the lawmakers and committees that considered the allocation, as well as the public officials or representatives who defended the proposed budget before the committees.
It further asked the National Assembly to clarify whether the allocation was included in the Executive’s original Appropriation Bill or introduced during the legislative process. SERAP also sought details of whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status or operational mandate of the council and what action was taken.
The request follows reports that the PFIPC/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received more than ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 budget. However, the Presidency has publicly stated that the body is fictitious and was never established by the Federal Government.
SERAP said the conflicting claims raise serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s budget process, legislative oversight, public financial management and accountability.
According to the organisation, the National Assembly has a constitutional duty not only to approve the national budget but also to thoroughly scrutinise Executive proposals before authorising public spending.
It argued that Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that was not legally established and how such an allocation occurred.
SERAP warned that if the requested information is not provided within seven days, it will take legal action to compel the National Assembly to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
The organisation maintained that releasing the records would strengthen public confidence in the National Assembly, promote transparency in public finance and enable citizens to hold public institutions accountable.
SERAP also cited Nigeria’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, the Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Tshwane Principles, arguing that public institutions must disclose information relating to the use of public funds and allegations of official misconduct.
