Buhari never created PFIPC — BMO

The Muhammadu Buhari Media Office has denied reports linking the former president to the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) controversy, insisting that his administration neither created the agency nor allocated funds to it.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the office described claims connecting Buhari to the alleged fictitious agency as false, baseless and without factual foundation.

According to the statement, the Buhari administration established only the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), an advisory body made up of economists and financial experts tasked with providing economic advice to the president.

The media office explained that the council was chaired by Prof. Doyin Salami before he was later appointed Chief Economic Adviser to the President. Other members included Prof. Mahmuda Sagagi, Prof. Ode Ojowu, Dr. Shehu Yahaya, Dr. Iyabo Masha, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Bismarck Rewane and Dr. Mohammed Adaya Salisu, who served as secretary.

It noted that the council operated on a part-time basis and had no budgetary allocation during Buhari’s administration, with its activities funded through presidential approvals handled by the Ministry of Finance.

The statement added that members of the council did not receive salaries, while office expenses were paid by the State House upon presidential approval.

The media office further stated that when President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the Buhari-appointed council was neither dissolved nor reconstituted, as members considered their appointments to have ended with the expiration of the administration that appointed them.

It also said the office used by the council and the Chief Economic Adviser at the Federal Secretariat remained vacant until it was reportedly occupied years later.

The Buhari Media Office maintained that reports suggesting the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged PFIPC originated during the former president’s administration were inaccurate and urged the public to disregard them.