The House of Representatives is under increasing pressure to invite the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to appear before lawmakers regarding the investigation into the alleged allocation of public funds to the Presidential Initiative on Food, Infrastructure, and Climate Change (PFIPC). This agency reportedly operates without legal authorization.
This call comes after the House decided to summon the Director-General of PFIPC, Ayo Adeyemi, to clarify the agency’s legal status, funding, and operations following its inclusion in the federal budget.
Both lawmakers and civil society groups argue that Gbajabiamila should also be questioned since the initiative was reportedly established under his office during his tenure as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Critics believe his testimony could shed light on the creation of the agency, its authority source, and the budgetary process that allocated it billions of naira.
The controversy escalated after the Budget Office of the Federation stated that PFIPC originated during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration but acknowledged that it currently lacks legislative backing from the National Assembly as a statutory government agency.
The House Committee responsible for the investigation has committed to uncovering the truth about the agency’s operations and verifying if public funds were appropriated properly.
Political observers see this probe as a significant test of transparency and accountability in managing public finances, with increasing demands for full disclosure from those involved in establishing and funding the initiative.
As of this report, neither Gbajabiamila nor the Presidency had officially responded to calls for his appearance before the House of Representatives.
