Why lawmakers can’t intervene in PFIPC budget scandal - Senate

The Nigerian Senate has declared its inability to intervene in the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The Senate's stance, communicated by its Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, is based on the fact that the dispute is already before the courts and no formal petition has been submitted to the National Assembly.

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The allegations and counter-allegations over a fake agency and its director general are all within the executive, which should be sorted out by it, specifically between the office of the Chief of Staff and the alleged fake DG.

Adaramodu acknowledged the N1.3 billion budgetary allocation for the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act but stressed that the National Assembly did not create this budget line. He stated that the Senate has no basis to investigate the matter, as it is considered sub judice. The Senate also clarified that it does not conduct security checks on individuals appointed to head government agencies, particularly if they were not subject to Senate confirmation.

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The budget line, being referred to, was not created or inserted by the National Assembly, and it is not the duty of the Senate or the House of Representatives to carry out security checks on those supposedly appointed to head the various MDAs.

"The allegations and counter-allegations over a fake agency and its director general are all within the executive, which should be sorted out by it, specifically between the office of the Chief of Staff and the alleged fake DG," Adaramodu said. He added that if a petition were submitted by any involved party or concerned Nigerian regarding the agency's existence, the Senate would review it legislatively. This position follows earlier dismissals by lawmakers of claims linking Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the controversial budget allocation.

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If a petition is sent to the Senate by any of the feuding parties or any concerned Nigerian on the existence or non-existence of agency or DG, it will be legislatively looked into.