Civil Society Group Calls for ICPC Probe into 2026 Budget

A coalition of civil society organizations, operating under the Coalition of Civil Society in Nigeria, has submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) urging an investigation into alleged flaws in the 2026 budget. The petition, presented by Convener Buna Olaitan and General Secretary Wyseman Ajayi at a news conference in Lagos, raises concerns about the inclusion of questionable agencies and allocations to projects outside the statutory mandates of beneficiary government agencies.

A significant point of contention is a reported N1.3 billion allocation to the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), which has previously been investigated by the ICPC. The coalition demands a comprehensive forensic investigation and accountability from officials involved in the budget process, including Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

They emphasize that the investigation should encompass all public officers and intermediaries linked to the disputed allocations to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigeria's federal budgetary framework.