The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain how a purported non-existent government agency allegedly secured a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, describing the development as a serious governance failure.
Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to provide Nigerians with a full explanation over the alleged inclusion of a purportedly non-existent government agency in the 2026 national budget. Atiku said the controversy surrounding the reported ₦1.3 billion allocation raises serious questions about transparency and accountability within the Federal Government.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned how the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) could have appeared in the Appropriation Act if, as the Presidency maintains, the agency never officially existed.
He asked who prepared the budget estimates, which ministry submitted them, who defended the proposals before the National Assembly, who approved the allocation, and how the item eventually became part of the budget signed into law.
According to Atiku, Nigerians deserve answers regarding the reported ₦1.3 billion allocation and the institutional processes that allegedly allowed the agency to appear in official government records.
The latest statement follows the Presidency’s earlier dismissal of claims surrounding the PFIPC, insisting that the body is not an official agency of the Federal Government and describing it as the creation of an individual currently under investigation by security agencies.
The controversy has generated widespread political debate after allegations emerged that the purported agency appeared in official government documentation despite the Presidency’s insistence that it has no legal existence.
Atiku called for an independent investigation into the matter, insisting that all individuals responsible for any wrongdoing should be identified and prosecuted, regardless of their status.
He argued that whether the incident resulted from internal collusion or administrative failure, the government bears responsibility for explaining how the alleged budgetary allocation occurred. Meanwhile, the Presidency has maintained that the PFIPC was never an official government institution.
The dispute has added another layer to the growing political exchanges between the opposition and the Presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections. With conflicting claims over the alleged agency and its reported budget allocation, attention is expected to remain on the government’s response and any further investigations into the matter.