The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to provide details on the ₦1.3 billion budgeted for what it described as a “fictitious” presidential council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
In a Freedom of Information request dated July 4, 2026, SERAP also asked the National Assembly to investigate how the allocation found its way into the budget and make all records connected to its approval available to the public. The request was disclosed on Sunday in a statement signed by the organisation’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The group requested that the lawmakers “urgently disclose certified copies of all documents relating to the consideration and approval of the allocation of over ₦1.3 billion (₦1,302,978,784) to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.”
SERAP further urged the National Assembly 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.”
The organisation also wants documents identifying the committees that handled the budget item, the lawmakers involved, and the government officials or representatives who defended the proposed allocation before the committees. It also sought clarification on whether the funding was contained in the Executive’s original budget proposal or introduced during legislative consideration.
According to SERAP, the budget earmarked more than ₦1.3 billion for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, despite public statements from the Presidency that no such council had been established by the Federal Government.
“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 stressed that lawmakers have a constitutional obligation to properly examine every budget proposal before approving public expenditure.
“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,” it said.
The civic group added that citizens are entitled to know whether public funds were approved for a body that does not legally exist and how such an allocation was made.
It warned that legal action would follow if the requested information was not released within seven days.
“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 stated.