Key Takeaways
- The Accountant-General of the Federation is to appear before a House of Representatives committee over a controversial budget allocation.
- The allocation was made to the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which the government describes as non-existent.
- The committee is investigating how the council received over N1.32 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite lacking legal recognition.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, is expected to testify before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the controversial budgetary allocation to the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the federal government claims does not exist.
The committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, has been investigating the allocation and is seeking to understand how the PFIPC secured office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and received a significant budget allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Lawmakers are particularly interested in how the PFIPC obtained a government budget code, which enabled its inclusion in the 2026 federal budget. The committee has already heard from several high-ranking officials, including the head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the director-general of the Budget Office.
The probe has gained significant attention following the arrest of an individual who claimed to be the Director-General of the PFIPC and alleged that he paid a large sum of money to secure an appointment. The presidency and other officials have denied any link to the individual, describing him as an impostor.
The committee is expected to hear from additional witnesses, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, and several ministers. As the investigation continues, it is likely to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the allocation and the operations of the PFIPC.
Why This Matters
This investigation is crucial as it highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in government budgeting and allocation processes. The outcome of the probe will likely have significant implications for the federal government's efforts to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and effectively.