The Senate has opted to delay any immediate investigation into the reported inclusion of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 national budget, choosing instead to await findings from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Senator Kawu Sumaila (APC, Kano South) raised the issue during plenary on Wednesday, calling for a probe into how an agency described as non-existent by the Federal Government received a ₦1.3 billion allocation under budget code 0111062001. He questioned the integrity of the budget process, pointing out that the entity appeared in the Appropriation Act despite public disavowal by the Presidency.

Sumaila emphasized the need to determine how such a proposal passed through scrutiny and approval stages, and whether any funds had already been accessed. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, presiding over the session, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the ICPC to investigate the matter fully. He urged legislative restraint until the report was available, stating that the Senate would act appropriately once findings were presented.

The controversy deepened when Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew publicly challenged the government's position, alleging inconsistency in statements from the Office of the Chief of Staff. He cited remarks attributed to Femi Gbajabiamila concerning both the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory, suggesting conflicting narratives about the agency's legitimacy.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

Senator Sumaila highlighted a glaring contradiction: an agency the Presidency claims was never created still secured a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget under a specific code. The Senate's decision to wait for the ICPC report, rather than initiate its own inquiry, delays accountability despite clear evidence of procedural failure. The public dispute by Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew over conflicting statements adds pressure on both the legislature and executive to clarify their positions. If the PFIPC was never approved, then its appearance in the budget suggests either a serious breach or deliberate deception.

Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →