SERAP asks Akpabio, Abbas to justify ₦1.3bn for allegedly ‘fictitious’ presidential council

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to explain the allocation of more than ₦1.3 billion to a “fictitious” presidential council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The civic organisation also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation and disclose documents relating to its approval.

The requests are contained in a Freedom of Information letter dated July 4, 2026, and made public via a statement signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.

The organisation called on Akpabio and Abbas to “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.”

It also asked 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.”

SERAP further requested certified copies of 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 defended the proposed allocation before the committees.

It also sought clarification on whether the allocation formed part of the Executive’s original Appropriation Bill or was introduced during the appropriation process.

According to SERAP, reports indicate that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received an allocation of over ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 budget, despite the Presidency publicly stating that the body was never 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 argued that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to thoroughly scrutinise budget proposals 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 organisation 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 this occurred.”

It warned that it would institute legal action if the requested information was not provided 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.