SERAP has asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to explain why more than N1.3 billion was allocated in the 2026 budget to a presidential council the Presidency has said does not exist.
The organisation also asked the leadership of the National Assembly to release documents showing how the allocation was approved and to investigate the circumstances surrounding it.
The requests were contained in a Freedom of Information letter dated July 4, 2026, and made public on Sunday in a statement signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
SERAP asked 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.”
The organisation also 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.”
SERAP further requested certified copies of records showing the members of the National Assembly committees that considered the allocation. It also asked for the names and official positions of public officers or representatives who defended the proposed allocation before the committees.
It also sought to know whether the allocation was part of the Executive’s original Appropriation Bill or if it was added during the budget process.
According to SERAP, reports showed that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council received more than N1.3 billion in the 2026 budget even though the Presidency had publicly said the council was never created by the Federal Government.
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“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 said the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to properly examine budget proposals before approving public spending.
“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 added that Nigerians deserve to know whether public funds were approved for a body that was not legally established.
“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,” SERAP said.
It warned that it would take 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.
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