PFIPC: Accountant-General denies salary payments, fund release to controversial agency

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has dismissed reports claiming that the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, received public funds or paid salaries to its workers through an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The clarification was made by the spokesperson of the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, following public concerns over reports that the agency appeared in the 2026 budget with an allocation of about N1.3 billion.

The reports also claimed that workers attached to the council had been receiving salaries, despite earlier statements from the Presidency that the agency was not recognised by the Federal Government.

The Presidency had described the PFIPC as a non-existent agency and identified its promoter, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, as an impostor. Adeyemi, however, rejected the allegation and announced plans to challenge the matter in court. He also claimed he paid N400 million to the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Responding to the growing controversy, Mokwa said the PFIPC had not received any money from the Federal Government and that there was no record showing that salaries had been paid to anyone linked to the agency.

He explained that no government agency can operate a Central Bank account without approval from the Office of the Accountant General. According to him, such approval is a mandatory requirement before any account can be opened or government funds processed.

He added that government workers cannot be placed on the payroll without the necessary approvals and official documentation, making it impossible for salaries to be paid to staff of an agency that lacks proper authorisation.

The PFIPC controversy has continued to attract public attention, with politicians and civil society groups calling for a full investigation into how the agency allegedly found its way into the 2026 budget and whether any government institution played a role in the matter.