Abuja, Nigeria – July 7, 2026
A coalition of more than 70 civil society organisations under the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has called for an independent and transparent investigation into allegations that a purported non-existent presidential agency received a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 national budget.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the coalition said the controversy raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability and due diligence in Nigeria’s budgeting and public appointment processes.
The groups questioned reports alleging that a body identified as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), also referred to in some reports as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, was allocated public funds despite claims that the agency does not legally exist.
The coalition said the matter extends beyond the actions of any individual and raises broader questions about Nigeria’s governance system, including how a budget allocation could allegedly be approved for an agency whose legal status is being disputed.
Among the questions raised were how the agency reportedly found its way into the 2026 Appropriation Act, whether appointment letters connected to the agency were genuine, and whether government institutions interacted with the organisation before the controversy emerged.
The civil society groups argued that the issues cannot be resolved through public statements alone and insisted that only an independent investigation backed by documentary evidence can restore public confidence.
They called for the temporary suspension of anyone linked to the alleged agency pending the outcome of investigations and urged authorities to conduct a time-bound inquiry into its formation, operations, funding claims and appointment process.
The coalition also recommended that the findings of the investigation be made public and that anyone found guilty of forgery, impersonation, fraud or abuse of office should face prosecution regardless of political affiliation or status.
In addition, the organisations urged the Federal Government to strengthen verification systems for public appointments and establish a publicly accessible digital register of all recognised federal ministries, departments, agencies and presidential bodies to improve transparency and prevent similar controversies.
While calling for accountability, the coalition stressed that all allegations should be investigated in line with due process and that no individual should be presumed guilty until the facts have been fully established.
