The Budget Office of the Federation has clarified that the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) did not originate under the current administration.
According to the Office, the council widely described as a "fake agency" evolved from an administrative structure created during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The clarification comes as investigations continue into how the council secured a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite questions surrounding its legal status and mandate.
What the Budget Office Said
In an official statement addressing the controversy, the Budget Office traced the institutional origin of the PFIPC to an earlier presidential body.
"PFIPC's institutional origin was premised on the Presidential Economic Advisory Council inaugurated by President Buhari on October 9, 2019."
The Office explained that the body was later restructured and that proposals relating to it passed through established administrative processes before being captured in the budget.
It also stressed its limited role in the process:
"The Budget Office does not create ministries, departments or agencies."
The Office noted that it only processes budget submissions from relevant authorizing authorities in line with extant rules.
How the ₦1.3 Billion Entered the 2026 Budget
At the center of the scandal is how an entity whose legitimacy is now under probe made it into the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The revelation has triggered parallel investigations by law enforcement agencies and the House of Representatives to determine how the agency was created, funded, and even allocated office space within the Federal Secretariat.
The Lobbying Claims
The controversy intensified following claims by Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who identifies himself as the Director-General of the council.
In a recent media interview, Adeyemi said he personally lobbied officials at the Budget Office to include the agency in the federal budget after an initial attempt failed.
Presidency Response and Ongoing Probes
The Presidency has distanced itself from the council and denied any link between the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and its operations. Gbajabiamila has also reportedly presented himself to relevant authorities for questioning.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is conducting a separate inquiry into the creation, funding, and accommodation of the council.
Why This Matters for Budget Accountability
For policymakers and oversight institutions, the PFIPC case raises critical questions:
• Budget Integrity: How non-existent or restructured agencies pass through budget defense and approval. • MDA Creation Process: The need for stricter verification before MDAs are captured in the budget system. • Public Finance Transparency: Strengthening due diligence across the entire appropriation value chain.
The outcome of the ICPC and House investigations will be key to preventing similar insertions in future budgets.
"I went to that Budget Office for the 2025 budget," Adeyemi said, adding that officials later informed him the proposal "would now be for the 2026 budget."
Presidency Response and Ongoing Probes
The Presidency has distanced itself from the council and denied any link between the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and its operations. Gbajabiamila has also reportedly presented himself to relevant authorities for questioning.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is conducting a separate inquiry into the creation, funding, and accommodation of the council.
Why This Matters for Budget Accountability
For policymakers and oversight institutions, the PFIPC case raises critical questions:
• Budget Integrity: How non-existent or restructured agencies pass through budget defense and approval. • MDA Creation Process: The need for stricter verification before MDAs are captured in the budget system. • Public Finance Transparency: Strengthening due diligence across the entire appropriation value chain.
The outcome of the ICPC and House investigations will be key to preventing similar insertions in future budgets.
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