The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the inclusion of more than ₦1.3 billion for the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 Appropriation Framework.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi, who questioned how the allocation was included in the proposed budget despite the Federal Government’s position that the council is not a legally recognised agency.
Lawmakers have constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate how the budget provision was introduced, from the executive proposal through the legislative process, and determine whether there were lapses in the budget scrutiny process.
The committee is also expected to verify the legal status of ministries, departments and agencies captured in the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Frameworks, while receiving briefings from relevant security and anti-corruption agencies without interfering with ongoing court proceedings.
During the debate, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu disclosed that his office had previously received correspondence from the organisation claiming to be affiliated with the Presidency. He said the office initially verified the address provided before granting a meeting, but later developments raised concerns about the group’s authenticity.
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Lawmakers described the incident as a threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s budgeting process and insisted that anyone found responsible for any wrongdoing should be identified and held accountable.
The committee is expected to invite the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Director-General of the Budget Office to explain the procedures for verifying agencies before they are included in the federal budget.
The ad hoc committee has been given four weeks to submit its report to the House for further legislative action.
