ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- 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 disclose all records relating to the approval of N1.3 billion allocated to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The organisation also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to immediately invoke its constitutional oversight powers to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation to what it described as a “fictitious presidential council” and identify those responsible for any irregularities.
SERAP made the demands in a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
Specifically, the group requested certified copies of all documents relating to the consideration and approval of the N1,302,978,784 budgetary allocation.
It also sought records identifying members of the National Assembly committees that handled the budget proposal, as well as the names and official designations of public officials or representatives who appeared before the committees to defend the allocation.
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SERAP further requested clarification on whether the provision formed part of the Executive’s original Appropriation Bill or was introduced during the legislative budget process.
The organisation also asked whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status, establishment or operational mandate of the council during deliberations and what action was taken in response.
The request followed reports that the PFIPC/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received over N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the Presidency publicly maintaining that no such body exists and that it was never established by the Federal Government.
Describing the situation as troubling, SERAP said the conflicting accounts raise serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s appropriation process, legislative oversight, public financial management and accountability.
“These conflicting accounts raise serious concerns regarding the integrity of Nigeria’s appropriations process, legislative oversight, public financial management and accountability,” the organisation stated.
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SERAP argued that lawmakers have a constitutional duty not only to approve budget proposals submitted by the Executive but also to thoroughly scrutinise public expenditure before authorisation.
“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 the organisation, the Nigerian Constitution places significant responsibilities on the National Assembly throughout the budget process, requiring legislators to debate, scrutinise and authorise public spending in line with constitutional provisions.
SERAP maintained that Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that was not lawfully established and, if so, how such an allocation occurred.
“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.”
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It said making the requested information public would allow citizens to determine whether the National Assembly fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities under Sections 80, 81, 88 and 89 of the Constitution.
The organisation gave the National Assembly seven days to comply with its requests, warning that it would commence legal action if the information was not released within the stipulated period.
“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.”
SERAP argued that releasing the requested records would strengthen public confidence in the credibility of the National Assembly, enhance transparency in public finance management and promote meaningful parliamentary oversight.
The organisation also cited provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, the 1999 Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the internationally recognised Tshwane Principles, insisting that public institutions have a legal obligation to disclose information relating to the expenditure of public funds and matters involving allegations of corruption or abuse of office.
It reiterated that, according to widely reported allegations, the PFIPC/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received over N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite the Presidency’s public statement issued on July 1, 2026, declaring that the council is a fictitious body that was never established by the Federal Government.