Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has called for a judicial inquiry into the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council (PFIPC), insisting the matter points to deep institutional failures rather than a mere administrative error.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS, Lawal argued that the circumstances surrounding the agency suggest the existence of a network that enabled it to operate within government processes despite questions over its legal status.
He maintained that an administrative investigation would be inadequate, stressing that only a judicial inquiry could uncover how the agency allegedly secured government funding.
Lawal questioned reports that the agency received a ₦27.5 billion take-off grant, asking how such funds could have been approved and released if the organisation lacked legal backing.
According to him, public attention has largely focused on the alleged insertion of ₦1.3 billion into the national budget, while the more critical issue is how the much larger take-off grant was allegedly disbursed.
He queried who approved the funds, how the request was processed, and why no government institution flagged the irregularity before the money was reportedly released.
Lawal said the controversy only became public because of disagreements over the sharing of the funds rather than the effectiveness of government oversight mechanisms.
He described the development as evidence of what he termed a major institutional compromise within the current administration.
The former SGF also questioned how the alleged agency obtained a budget code through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), noting that ministries, departments and agencies are required to follow established budget procedures before receiving allocations.
He argued that if the organisation had no legal foundation, officials responsible for assigning budget codes and processing its submissions should be identified and investigated.
Lawal further faulted the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, saying it should have detected and flagged any agency operating without proper legal authorisation before its budget proposals reached the National Assembly.
He also criticised the National Assembly, accusing lawmakers of failing to properly scrutinise budget proposals and exercise effective oversight over government spending.
According to him, the focus should not only be on whether the agency legally exists but also on identifying those who allegedly facilitated its operations and access to public funds.
Lawal added that individuals occupying key positions within government should be held accountable if investigations establish that they enabled the agency to function without the necessary legal framework.
