SERAP puts Akpabio, Abbas on spot over ₦1.3bn allocation to ‘Phantom’ Council

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 account for the inclusion of more than ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act for a presidential council that the Presidency has publicly declared does not exist.

In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated July 4, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation demanded certified copies of all documents relating to the consideration and approval of the ₦1,302,978,784 allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

The rights group also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to immediately invoke its constitutional oversight powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution to investigate how the allocation was made, identify those responsible for any irregularities, and determine whether public funds were appropriated for an entity with no legal existence.

SERAP further requested records identifying the National Assembly committees that processed the allocation, the lawmakers involved, and the public officials or representatives who defended the budget proposal during legislative scrutiny.

The organisation also sought clarification on whether the controversial allocation originated from the Executive’s initial budget proposal or was introduced during the legislative appropriation process.

It asked whether any lawmaker questioned the legal status or operational mandate of the council and what actions were taken in response.

The request follows reports that the PFIPC received over ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget, despite a statement issued by the Presidency on July 1 declaring the council a fictitious body that was never established by the Federal Government.

According to SERAP, the contradiction between the budget allocation and the Presidency’s denial raises serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s appropriation process, legislative oversight and public financial management.

“Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law,” the organisation stated, stressing that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty not only to approve budgets but also to rigorously scrutinise expenditure proposals before authorising the release of public funds.

SERAP argued that Nigerians deserve to know whether billions of naira were appropriated for an entity that lacks legal backing and how such an allocation passed through the legislative process without being flagged.

The group maintained that disclosure of the requested documents would enable citizens to determine whether the National Assembly fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities under Sections 80, 81, 88 and 89 of the Constitution during consideration of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

It added that making the records public would strengthen confidence in the National Assembly, promote transparency in public finance, and reinforce accountability in the management of government resources.

SERAP also cited the Freedom of Information Act, the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the internationally recognised Tshwane Principles, arguing that public institutions have a legal obligation to disclose information concerning the use of public funds and allegations of official misconduct.

The organisation gave the National Assembly seven days to comply with its requests, warning that it would initiate legal proceedings if the information was not provided within the stipulated timeframe.

“The requested records concern matters of exceptional public importance,” SERAP said, insisting that openness in the handling of the controversial allocation is essential to preserving the credibility of Nigeria’s budgetary process and ensuring accountability in public governance.