HEDA demands probe into alleged ₦1bn PFIPC budget allocation

By Our Reporter

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called for an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following reports that more than ₦1 billion was appropriated for the body in the 2026 national budget despite the Presidency’s denial that such an office exists.

The anti-corruption and good governance organisation said the issue has become a matter of public accountability that requires a comprehensive explanation from the Federal Government to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s budgeting process.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA argued that the controversy extends beyond the actions of any individual and raises broader concerns about fiscal transparency, institutional credibility and the management of public resources.

According to the organisation, if the Presidency maintains that the PFIPC does not exist, Nigerians deserve to know how a budgetary allocation for the body was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

“If the Presidency maintains that the PFIPC does not exist, Nigerians deserve to know how an allocation for the council found its way into the 2026 Appropriation Act,” Suraju said.

“The public has a right to know who proposed the allocation, the government institutions that processed and approved it, and whether any public funds have been released or committed, considering the secondment of public servants to the office.”

HEDA said the controversy presents an opportunity for the Federal Government to reaffirm its commitment to openness by publishing all relevant information relating to the alleged council and its budgetary allocation.

The organisation stressed that transparency and accountability remain fundamental to democratic governance, adding that every appropriation should be supported by clear legal and administrative processes.

According to HEDA, uncertainty surrounding the legitimacy of government institutions or public expenditure risks undermining public confidence in governance and weakening trust in the nation’s public finance system.

The group also warned that unresolved questions over the alleged PFIPC could have wider implications for Nigeria’s investment climate, noting that institutional transparency and fiscal accountability are important considerations for both domestic and foreign investors.

To address the concerns, HEDA urged the Tinubu administration to make public all documents relating to the alleged council, including details of the origin of the budget proposal, the approval process, any expenditure linked to the allocation and measures being taken to prevent similar occurrences.

The organisation further called on the National Assembly, anti-corruption agencies, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and other oversight institutions to conduct an independent investigation and publish their findings.

“Nigerians deserve a full and credible explanation. Every appropriation in the national budget must be traceable, lawful and subject to public scrutiny,” the statement said.

According to HEDA, strengthening accountability in public finance is essential to restoring confidence in government institutions, improving fiscal governance and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.