By Stephen Simon
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) is set to question the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, as lawmakers intensify their probe into the alleged inclusion of a non-existent agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, is investigating how the purported agency reportedly secured office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and received a budgetary allocation of more than ₦1.32 billion despite lacking legal recognition by the Federal Government.
Lawmakers are expected to seek explanations from the Accountant-General on the budgetary process, financial controls and the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of the controversial agency in the national budget. The panel is also examining whether established financial and administrative procedures were circumvented.
The investigation forms part of the House’s broader effort to determine how the agency found its way into the 2026 budget and identify any institutional failures that may have enabled the alleged anomaly. The committee has pledged to recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in future budget cycles.
The controversy has generated widespread public interest following allegations that the PFIPC operated from government premises and engaged with public institutions despite not being established by any Act of the National Assembly or other lawful instrument of government.
In recent appearances before the panel, officials of the Budget Office maintained that although funds were appropriated for the agency, no financial clearance was issued and no public money was released or spent because statutory conditions for disbursement were never met.
The House committee has reiterated its commitment to uncovering the circumstances surrounding the disputed allocation, identify those responsible for any infractions, and strengthen oversight of Nigeria’s budget and public finance management system.
