PFIPC Saga: It’s Not Our Duty To Vet Heads Of Federal Agencies— Senate Spokesman

The Senate has distanced itself from the controversy surrounding the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting it has no constitutional responsibility to conduct security checks on individuals appointed to head federal agencies and will not intervene in the matter unless a formal petition is submitted.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, stated this while briefing journalists after plenary on Tuesday, saying the dispute remains an executive matter and is already before the court.

The controversy stems from claims by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who identifies himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded bribes in relation to his appointment and the agency's budget.

The Presidency has, however, disowned the agency, maintaining that the PFIPC does not exist, while President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.

Addressing the issue, Adaramodu said the upper chamber had not received any petition from the parties involved or any concerned citizen to justify legislative intervention.

“The allegations and counter-allegations over fake agency and fake director-general are all within the executive, which should be sorted out by it, specifically between the office of the chief of staff and the alleged fake DG," he said.

Responding to concerns that the controversial agency appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act, Adaramodu explained that the budget proposal originated from the executive arm of government and was not created by the National Assembly.

“The budget line being referred to was not created or inserted by the national assembly, and it is not the duty of the senate or the house of representatives to carry out security checks on those supposedly appointed to head the various MDAs,” he said.

The Senate spokesman further clarified that the situation would have been different if the appointment in question required legislative screening and confirmation.

"If the alleged fake DG were to be one of the presidential appointees screened and confirmed by the senate, the controversy might have been perceived to be somewhat linked to us," he added.

Adaramodu maintained that the Senate would refrain from making further comments on the issue because it is currently the subject of litigation.

He, however, said the National Assembly would be willing to investigate the matter if a formal petition was submitted.

"However, if a petition is sent to the senate by any of the feuding parties or any concerned Nigerian on the existence or non-existence of the agency or DG, it would be legislatively looked into," he said.