Fake PFIPC Agency Has Nothing To Do With Ruling Party — Oshiomhole

The Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has said the investigation into the alleged creation of a fake Presidential agency should not be viewed through the lens of partisan politics, insisting that the issue borders on accountability and due process.

Oshiomhole stated this during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headline programme hosted by Nifemi Oguntoye on Monday, July 27.

The senator was reacting to the controversy surrounding the inclusion of a N1.3 billion allocation for the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the national budget, despite claims that the agency was not legally established.

Addressing concerns that the controversy could be linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Oshiomhole said the issue should not be politicised.

He urged opposition parties to approach the matter with fairness instead of using it to target the ruling party.

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“The issue is not whether the money was released or not. The issue is why it should be in the budget,” Oshiomhole said. “The fake agency is not about the APC. Opposition parties should be open before dragging the ruling APC.”

The Budget Office of the Federation had reportedly confirmed that no funds were released to the agency because it had not obtained the necessary approvals to operate.

Oshiomhole described the budget as a legal document that must contain only lawful provisions approved by the appropriate authorities.

“The document is a very important appropriation law. So everything there should be lawful. It is not enough to say I released or I didn’t release.”

The former Edo State governor explained that some budget provisions may not be implemented due to revenue limitations or other factors, but stressed that every item included in the document must reflect approved government priorities.

“After all, there are other well-documented provisions or appropriations that have not been released. That is normal, because budget is a statement of projected revenue and projected expenditure.”

“However, anything there should be something that reflects the will of the executive as approved by the parliament,” he added.

Oshiomhole described the development as concerning but rejected suggestions that the National Assembly failed in its oversight responsibilities during the budget approval process.

“It’s a worrisome thing. I won’t agree that the Parliament’s due diligence fell short in this case.”

He noted that the House of Representatives was already investigating the matter, adding that a probe by one chamber of the National Assembly was sufficient because Nigeria operates a bicameral legislature.

“The matter is being investigated by the House of Representatives. If one chamber is investigating the matter, that suffices for the others since we run a bicameral legislature.”