The Federal Government has denied releasing public funds or paying salaries to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), despite reports linking the agency to budgetary allocations and staff recruitment.

The clarification was made by the Director of Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa, who said the agency does not have an operational account through which government funds could be disbursed.

Mokwa explained that although an application was submitted to open an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the process was never completed because the required documentation, including details of authorised account signatories, was not provided.

According to him, the account remains inactive and has not received any government funds.

He said the agency’s convener, Adeniyi Adeyemi, approached the OAGF with an appointment letter, but alleged that the document related to an already existing agency rather than the PFIPC.

Mokwa stated that while the account-opening process commenced based on the document presented, it could not be concluded because the necessary requirements were not fulfilled.

He maintained that the absence of an operational account meant there was no avenue through which the Office of the Accountant-General could release funds to the council.

The OAGF spokesman also dismissed reports that the agency had paid salaries or recruited workers into the federal service.

According to him, no recruitment could take place without approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the Budget Office and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

He explained that only after obtaining those approvals can an agency submit employees’ details to the Office of the Accountant-General for enrolment on the federal payroll and salary payments.

Mokwa added that none of those procedures had been completed by the PFIPC.

He further said the council was expected to operate under the 2026 budget and had not yet reached the stage where it could receive government funding.

His comments followed reports that the Federal Government approved a waiver for the controversial council to recruit 300 employees in August 2025.

A review of the 2026 Appropriation Act also shows that the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council is listed under the Presidency with a budgetary allocation of ₦1.303 billion.

The allocation comprises ₦802.98 million for personnel costs, ₦200 million for overhead expenditure and ₦300 million for capital projects.

(Photo Credit: Channels Television)