Politics
Buhari Administration Originated Fake PFIPC, Budget Office Tells Reps
The Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Tanimu Yakubu, disclosed this after appearing before members of the House of Representatives in Abuja, explaining how the agency came to be captured in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
According to Mr Yakubu, the institutional origin of the PFIPC was linked to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), inaugurated by the Buhari administration on October 9, 2019.
He said by the time preparations for the 2026 budget commenced, official instruments relating to the council had already been issued by relevant government institutions.
Mr Yakubu explained that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had assigned an administrative code to the PFIPC, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had approved an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver.
He said the applicable public service salary structure was also in place, adding that the Budget Office neither created the council nor assigned its administrative code or approved its establishment.
Rather, he said the office relied on the official instruments presented to it to determine the fiscal implications of the council’s operations.
The Budget Office DG disclosed that the council initially submitted a personnel estimate of N3.85 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.
However, the Budget Office independently reviewed the request and reduced the personnel provision to N802.978 million based on the authorised establishment, approved recruitment waiver, applicable salary structure and extant costing methodology.
He said the amount was subsequently included in the Executive Budget proposal and later appropriated by the National Assembly.
Mr Yakubu, however, clarified that the appropriation did not translate into the release of funds to the PFIPC.
He said the council could not access the personnel provision because it failed to obtain the required Financial Clearance, which is necessary before recruitment and payroll processes can commence.
According to him, the Budget Office did not issue Financial Clearance to the PFIPC because some regulatory conditions remained unmet, including confirmation by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission that the proposed staffing and remuneration arrangements complied with the approved public service framework.
He stressed that no recruitment took place, no pay roll record was created and no salary was paid to any employee of the council.
Mr Yakubu said the N802.978 million personnel provision represented 61.63 per cent of the total N1.303 billion appropriation for the PFIPC.
He further explained that personnel allocations are not released to agencies as lump sums but are paid into the bank accounts of verified employees enrolled on the Federal Government pay roll.
The controversy surrounding the PFIPC came to public attention in June 2026 after the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, declared the council fake and petitioned law enforcement agencies.
The council’s Director-General, Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, subsequently challenged the Presidency’s position and made allegations against Mr Gbajabiamila, which the Chief of Staff denied.
Mr Gbajabiamila has since instituted legal action against Prince Adeyemi over the allegations, while law enforcement authorities are investigating the wider PFIPC controversy.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also confirmed that two domiciliary accounts linked to the PFIPC had been opened on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The apex bank, however, said the accounts, denominated in US dollars and British pounds sterling, were never funded or operated.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
-
News1 day agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy1 day agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Oil & Energy1 day agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
Maritime1 day agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
News1 day agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News1 day agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News1 day agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime1 day agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment