The Senate on Wednesday declined a motion seeking a comprehensive investigation into the controversial ₦1.3 billion budget allocation to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), saying the matter is already being handled by the executive arm of government.
The motion was sponsored by Senator Suleiman Kawu (APC, Kano South), who raised the issue during plenary under Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders (2026).
Titled “Urgent Need to Investigate the Budgetary Allocation, Operations, and Controversy Surrounding the Purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC),” the motion sought a detailed probe into how the council appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Senator Raises Concerns Over Budget Allocation
Presenting the motion, Senator Kawu argued that the controversy surrounding the PFIPC threatens the credibility of both the Senate and the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight responsibilities.
He noted that public attention had been drawn to allegations and conflicting claims surrounding the council, raising concerns about how it was included in the national budget.
According to the senator, lawmakers needed to establish whether proper procedures were followed before approving the allocation.
Call for Investigation
Kawu urged the Senate to mandate its Committees on:
- Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions
- Appropriations
to investigate several issues, including:
- How ₦1,302,978,784 was proposed and approved in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
- Which ministries, departments or agencies were involved in the process.
- Whether any public officials facilitated the council’s inclusion in the budget.
- Whether government funds had been released or spent under the allocation.
- Whether any bank account had been opened or operated in connection with the budget line.
He also called for the Senate to condemn any administrative failures or fraudulent actions that may have enabled the council’s inclusion in the budget.
Senate Declines Motion
After the motion was presented, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, advised lawmakers against opening a separate legislative investigation.
According to Jibrin, President Bola Tinubu had already directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
He said the Senate should allow the executive’s investigation to proceed before taking any further action.
The chamber subsequently declined to adopt the motion for a legislative probe.
PFIPC Controversy
The PFIPC has been at the centre of public controversy following questions about its legal status and its inclusion in the 2026 federal budget.
The issue has prompted calls for greater transparency regarding the appropriation process and the mechanisms used to include agencies and projects in the national budget.
Government officials have maintained that the matter is under investigation, while lawmakers and civil society groups continue to seek clarity on how the allocation was approved.
