The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, has explained that the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), widely described as a “fake agency”, originated from institutional arrangements established during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Yakubu gave the clarification after appearing before the House of Representatives in Abuja, where lawmakers questioned how the PFIPC secured an allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite widespread concerns over its legal status.

According to the Budget Office, the institutional origin of the PFIPC can be traced to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), inaugurated by former President Buhari on 9 October 2019. Yakubu explained that by the time preparation of the 2026 Budget commenced, official instruments relating to the council had already been issued by the relevant government institutions.

He further stated that the PFIPC did not secure budgetary allocation simply by requesting funds, insisting that the Budget Office relied on official government documentation available during the budget preparation process. The explanation comes amid growing public scrutiny over how the body was recognised within government structures and allocated public funds.

The controversy erupted after revelations that the PFIPC, allegedly established without proper legal backing, received an allocation of about ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 federal budget. The development has triggered investigations by security agencies and renewed calls for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s budgetary process.

The scandal has also intensified concerns about oversight failures within government institutions, with civil society organisations and transparency advocates demanding a thorough investigation into the officials and agencies responsible for approving the council’s activities and budget allocation.