PFICP scandal: How ₦1.3bn ‘fake agency’ traced to Buhari’s government entered 2026 budget 

The Budget Office of the Federation has disclosed that the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) — now declared fake and under investigation — originated from institutional records linked to the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, made this known while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the matter. He explained that although ₦1.302 billion was appropriated for the council in the 2026 budget, not a single kobo was released because statutory spending controls prevented the funds from ever being accessed.

Providing a detailed account of how the PFIPC found its way into the 2026 budget, Yakubu traced the council’s institutional origin to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), which President Buhari inaugurated on October 9, 2019. By the time the 2026 budget preparations began, official government instruments had already been issued by key institutions. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had assigned an administrative budget code to the PFIPC, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had approved an authorised establishment and a recruitment waiver. Yakubu emphasised that the Budget Office did not create the council or approve its establishment — it merely acted on official documents received from other government institutions. In his words, “The Budget Office did not create the Council. It did not assign its code. It did not approve its establishment. It did not grant its recruitment waiver. It received official instruments and did what the law required of it: it measured their fiscal effect.”

Giving a breakdown of how the ₦1.302 billion allocation was calculated, Yakubu disclosed that the PFIPC initially requested ₦3.85 billion for personnel costs, but the Budget Office independently calculated a reduced figure of ₦802,978,783. This amount, which represented 61.63 per cent of the total ₦1.302 billion appropriation, was based strictly on the authorised establishment, the approved recruitment waiver, the applicable public-service salary structure, and the extant costing methodology. The overhead component stood at ₦200 million, while capital expenditure was set at ₦300 million. Despite the full appropriation of ₦1.302 billion, not a single kobo was disbursed to the council.

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Explaining why the money was never released, Yakubu stated that despite the appropriation, the council could not access the funds because the Budget Office withheld Financial Clearance — the mandatory approval required before recruitment, payroll enrolment, or salary payments can commence. He clarified that two conditions remained incomplete: first, the 2026 Appropriation Bill only became law on March 31, 2026, meaning final clearance could not be issued before presidential assent; second, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had not confirmed that the proposed staffing and remuneration arrangements complied with the approved public-service compensation framework. Yakubu stressed that “There was no Financial Clearance. There was no lawful recruitment. There was no payroll enrollment. There was no salary payment. Not one kobo of the personnel provision could lawfully have been drawn. Not one kobo was drawn.” The overhead allocation of ₦200 million could not be released because it required treasury warrants and cash backing from the Federal Ministry of Finance, while the capital allocation of ₦300 million never progressed beyond appropriation because no procurement plan was initiated, no tenders board approved any project, and no Certificate of No Objection was issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The scandal surrounding how a ‘fake agency’ gained official recognition became public on June 11, 2026, when the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, declared the council fake and petitioned law enforcement agencies. Subsequent investigations revealed that the PFIPC had secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, that the Central Bank of Nigeria opened two foreign currency accounts — one in US dollars and another in British pounds — on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General, and that the agency was listed in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget of ₦1.302 billion. It was also discovered that the self-declared Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, presented forged appointment letters and falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee. On July 7, 2026, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report within 30 days.

In the midst of counterclaims and the ongoing investigation, before his arrest, Adeniyi Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional ₦200 million to secure his appointment. The Chief of Staff has denied the allegations and filed a defamation suit seeking ₦15 billion in damages. The ICPC investigation is now examining forged appointment letters and official documents, the use of false presidential claims to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, the opening of multiple bank accounts using allegedly forged documents, the role of public officers, private individuals, and financial institutions that may have facilitated the scheme, as well as broader weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited. The Budget Office has maintained that the episode demonstrates the strength of Nigeria’s public financial management system, as the controls held firm and prevented any actual loss of public funds.

PFICP scandal: How ₦1.3bn ‘fake agency’ traced to Buhari’s government entered 2026 budget 

US Imposes 12.5% Tariff on Nigerian Imports Over Forced Labour Claims

The United States has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria as part of a new trade measure targeting 60 economies it says have failed to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour.

The measure, announced on Thursday, July 23, 2026, by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), affects imports from 60 economies that Washington says have not “imposed and effectively enforced a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour”. Nigeria is among the countries subject to the higher 12.5 per cent tariff rate, while some nations that have adopted or committed to implement bans on imports linked to forced labour will face a lower 10 per cent rate. The move follows investigations launched by the USTR in May 2026 under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into 60 of the United States’ largest trading partners. According to the agency, it received more than 1,600 written submissions, held public hearings involving over 100 witnesses, and consulted more than 45 governments before announcing the tariffs.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the action was aimed at encouraging trading partners to strengthen measures against forced labour. “President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains. The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” Greer stated. Explaining the tariff structure, the USTR stated that 10 per cent is the appropriate rate for investigated economies that impose a forced labour import prohibition, have committed to impose such a prohibition through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, or have imposed a partial regime preventing the importation of certain forced labour goods. These economies include Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. The 12.5 per cent tariff applies to all other investigated economies, including Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Japan, Morocco, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Vietnam, among others. A full list published by Punch Newspapers shows that Nigeria is grouped with 46 other economies facing the higher tariff rate.

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A Federal Register notice issued by the USTR specifically confirmed that Nigeria would be subject to the 12.5 per cent tariff on its exports to the United States, except for products covered under listed exemptions. The notice stated: “Based on the findings in the investigation of Nigeria, considering the public comments, testimony, and the advice of the Section 301 Committee, as well as the advice of advisory committees, and in accordance with the specific direction of the President, the Trade Representative has determined to impose 12.5 percent tariffs on products of Nigeria, except as provided in Annex I and Annex II, Part A, of this Notice.” The notice added that the Trade Representative determined that the tariff rate and scope of exemptions are appropriate to obtain the elimination of the acts, policies, and practices determined to be actionable in the investigation.

The USTR clarified that certain categories of products would be exempted from the tariffs. These include raw materials whose restriction could trigger domestic supply shortages, goods capable of causing widespread economic disruption, products unavailable in sufficient quantities within the United States or from alternative suppliers, as well as selected imports from countries that have adopted or committed to enforcing bans on forced labour-related goods. Additional exemptions apply where the tariffs are not considered effective in addressing the trade practices identified during the investigations.

The new tariff regime comes after President Donald Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to introduce a temporary universal tariff on imports following a US Supreme Court decision that blocked his administration’s broader tariff programme under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The Trump administration subsequently raised the rate to 15 per cent, with the temporary measure due to expire on Friday. For countries like Nigeria, the 12.5 per cent tariff comes on top of the existing 10 per cent baseline duty introduced under President Trump’s reciprocal trade framework, effectively raising total tariffs on Nigerian exports to the United States to 27.5 per cent.

The development comes as Nigeria continues efforts to expand non-oil exports and strengthen trade relations with major economies. If implemented, the additional tariff could make it more expensive for affected countries to sell products into one of the world’s largest consumer markets, raising concerns about trade competitiveness and export earnings. The USTR said the measure was aimed at levelling the playing field, arguing that countries that fail to prevent the import of goods produced with forced labour gain an unfair edge by allowing cheaper products to flood global supply chains. “The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” Greer said. Nigeria already has laws prohibiting forced and compulsory labour, including constitutional protections and anti-trafficking legislation, but enforcement remains a key issue in international assessments. Some US trading partners have already criticised the new tariffs. Japan’s chief government spokesman, Minoru Kihara, said Japan regrets that the measure imposes tariffs on Japan solely on the grounds that there is no ban on the import of products produced through forced labour. Brazil called the measure “completely arbitrary” and accused the USTR of manipulating an issue of great importance to human rights for protectionist purposes.

US Imposes 12.5% Tariff on Nigerian Imports Over Forced Labour Claims

House of Reps Passes State Police Bill with 311 Votes, Moves Nigeria to Decentralised Policing

• The landmark constitutional amendment bill, transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to establish state-controlled police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force amid minority walkout protest.

In a historic move to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture, the House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly passed the executive bill seeking to establish state police across the federation. No fewer than 311 lawmakers voted in support of the constitutional amendment bill, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas confirming that 35 members participated virtually while 276 voted physically in the chamber. The legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services and for Related Matters (HB. 2797),” was approved following the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. The decision followed the Nigerian Senate’s earlier passage of its version of the legislation, bringing the proposed reform closer to becoming law. This comes weeks after the House had separately passed a constitutional amendment bill on state police, during which about 288 lawmakers supported the proposal.

President Bola Tinubu transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026 to the House of Representatives last week, describing it as a “critical component” of his administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture. In his letter to the House, the President stated that the bill builds on the significant work already done by the National Assembly and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure the effective implementation of a dual policing structure. Upon receiving the executive proposal, the House rescinded its earlier resolution of June 11, 2026, on the establishment of state police and dissolved the 12-member Conference Committee it had constituted on July 9, 2026. The decision allowed lawmakers to proceed with the executive-backed version of the constitutional amendment.

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The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to formally establish both Federal Police and State Police formations across the country. Under the proposal, the National Assembly will determine the structure, organisation, administration, and powers of the Federal Police, while also providing the legal framework and national standards for establishing state police services. The bill provides that no state police force can begin operations unless it is established through a law passed by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified as meeting the minimum national standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. Until then, the Federal Police will continue to perform policing duties in any state without an operational state police service. The legislation also limits the circumstances under which the Federal Police can intervene in a state’s internal security matters. Such intervention would only be permitted in cases of a complete breakdown of law and order, at the request of a state governor, or where a state police force becomes unable to function because of administrative, financial, or other challenges.

The bill proposes significant changes to the appointment and command structure of the police. Under the amendment, the Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the President on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Federal Police, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. State Commissioners of Police would be appointed by governors on the advice of the National Police Council from among serving members of the State Police, subject to confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly. The proposal also empowers governors to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police on matters relating to public safety and maintaining law and order. However, where a commissioner believes such directives are unlawful or inconsistent with accepted policing standards, the matter may be referred to the National Police Council, whose decision would be final. To address concerns over possible abuse of state police by political authorities, lawmakers incorporated safeguards to protect civil liberties and political freedoms. One provision states that a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate, or deploy force against any individual, political party, or group merely for criticising a government, except in accordance with the law.

Despite the overwhelming support for the bill, the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives staged a walkout from the chamber in protest, accusing the House leadership of violating constitutional provisions and the chamber’s Standing Orders during the passage. Addressing journalists shortly after leaving the chamber, the Minority Leader, Fredrick Agbedi, insisted that their action was not borne out of opposition to state police but against what they described as the abuse of parliamentary procedures. The caucus argued that the Speaker, while presiding as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, ignored clear constitutional requirements governing the alteration of the Constitution. “Constitutional amendment bills must be considered clause by clause, with each provision supported by a two-thirds majority of members as stipulated in both the Constitution and the House Standing Orders,” Agbedi said. He faulted the decision to merely read the long title of the bill and determine its passage through a voice vote without detailed consideration of each clause. Defending his handling of the proceedings, Speaker Abbas said the constitutional threshold required for the amendment had already been met, noting that 276 members signed the attendance register in support while 35 more voted online, bringing the total to 311 lawmakers in support—well above the two-thirds requirement of 240 members.

Following the House’s passage, the bill will now require concurrence with the Senate, which had already passed its own version earlier. Both chambers of the National Assembly are working in close collaboration to fast-track the constitutional amendment process. The harmonised bill must then secure the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly (24 out of 36 states) before it can be transmitted to the President for assent to become part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The push for state police has continued to receive support from several state governments. On Wednesday, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf declared that Kano was ready for the establishment of state police, describing the initiative as critical to improving security and protecting lives and property. “The proposed State Police will complement, not compete with, the Nigeria Police Force. Both institutions share the responsibility of protecting lives and property and maintaining law and order,” Yusuf said. He added, “Kano State has the institutional capacity, human resources, and political will to establish and sustain State Police when the necessary constitutional frameworks are in place.” The governor also pledged his administration’s support for efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security system, saying, “We will support every legitimate initiative that strengthens Nigeria’s security architecture and creates a safer environment for citizens.”

House of Reps Passes State Police Bill with 311 Votes, Moves Nigeria to Decentralised Policing