Iyoyo Ameh
The Senate has suspended plans to investigate the controversial ₦1.3 billion budgetary allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), choosing instead to wait for the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The decision was announced during Tuesday’s plenary after Senator Kawu Sumaila (APC, Kano) raised the issue under a matter of urgent national importance, questioning how an agency reportedly disowned by the Presidency was allocated ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
While attempting to move the motion, Sumaila was stopped by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who ruled that the matter should be presented as a substantive motion rather than under the urgent national importance procedure.
Despite the ruling, the senator outlined his concerns, arguing that the inclusion of the PFIPC in the national budget raises serious questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s budget process.
According to him, the council was listed under budget code 0111062001 with a total allocation of ₦1.3 billion. He said the budget contained more than ₦800 million for personnel costs, over ₦200 million for overhead expenses, and more than ₦300 million for capital projects, despite public statements distancing the Presidency from the agency.
Sumaila warned that allocating public funds to an agency whose status has been questioned could weaken public confidence in the National Assembly’s oversight role and expose shortcomings in the budget approval process.
He urged the Senate to direct its Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as well as the Committee on Appropriations, to investigate how the allocation was proposed, approved and inserted into the 2026 budget.
The lawmaker also sought clarification on whether any money had already been released, committed or spent under the budget line and whether any bank accounts had been opened or operated in connection with the allocation.
Responding, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said President Bola Tinubu had already directed the ICPC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disputed budget provision.
Barau noted that the anti-corruption agency had commenced its investigation, making it appropriate for the Senate to await the outcome before embarking on its own parliamentary probe.
He added that once the ICPC submits its findings, the Senate will review the report and determine whether further legislative action is necessary.
The Senate’s decision effectively places any parliamentary investigation on hold pending the outcome of the ICPC’s inquiry into how the controversial ₦1.3 billion allocation was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
