The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to disclose all 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.
SERAP Files Lawsuit Over Senator Natasha’s Suspension
Read also: Speaker Commissions Soba Projects to Boost Education, Healthcare
In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, SERAP urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to release certified copies of records detailing the consideration and approval of the ₦1,302,978,784 allocation.
The organisation also called on the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional oversight powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by investigating the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of what it described as a “fictitious presidential council” in the 2026 budget and identifying those responsible for any irregularities.
SERAP further requested certified records identifying members of the National Assembly committees that considered the allocation, as well as the names and official designations of public officers or representatives who appeared before the committees to defend the proposed budget.
The organisation also sought clarification on whether the allocation formed part of the Executive’s original Appropriation Bill or was introduced or amended during the legislative appropriation process. It further asked whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status, establishment or operational mandate of the council and what action was taken in response.
The request follows reports that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received an allocation of over ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite the Presidency publicly stating that the body was never established by the Federal Government and does not exist.
Read also: Affordable Housing: FG Advances 10,000 Units Across Nigeria
The FoI request, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that the conflicting accounts raise serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s appropriation process, legislative oversight, public financial management and accountability.
According to SERAP, the National Assembly has a constitutional duty not only to approve budget proposals but also to thoroughly scrutinise and debate them before authorising public expenditure. The organisation argued that lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure that only legally established institutions receive public funding.
SERAP maintained that Nigerians have a right to know whether public funds were appropriated for an entity that was not lawfully created and, if so, how such an allocation was approved. It said disclosure of the requested information would enable citizens to assess whether the National Assembly fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities during the budget process.
The organisation gave the National Assembly seven days from the receipt or publication of its letter to provide the requested information, warning that it would initiate legal proceedings in the public interest should the request remain unanswered within the stipulated period.
SERAP argued that releasing the records would strengthen public confidence in the National Assembly, promote transparency in the management of public resources, and reinforce accountability in the country’s budgetary and appropriations process. It described the matter as one of exceptional public importance because it concerns the lawful establishment and funding of public institutions and the use of taxpayers’ money.
Read also: ABU SPESSE-CE Graduates 420 in Sustainability Training
SERAP Urges Tinubu to Probe ₦5.9 Billion NNPC Rebranding Costs
The organisation also cited the Freedom of Information Act, the Nigerian Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Tshwane Principles, arguing that these legal frameworks guarantee citizens’ right to access information held by public institutions and require public authorities to disclose information concerning the use of public funds and matters of significant public interest.