The Budget Office of the Federation has clarified that the inclusion of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council in the 2026 budget originated from administrative instruments issued by external government bodies, rather than a direct request or creation by the budget agency.

Speaking before the House of Representatives, Budget Office Director-General Tanimu Yakubu explained that the agency received official administrative codes, establishment approvals, and recruitment waivers from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. He noted that the Budget Office's responsibility was limited to assessing the fiscal impact of these existing instruments.

According to the Director-General, the council initially submitted a personnel estimate of N3.850 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. The Budget Office dismissed this figure and conducted an independent calculation utilizing approved recruitment waivers and standard public-service salary structures, which reduced the projection to N802.978 million.

Despite its inclusion in the appropriated budget, the Director-General emphasized that no funds were disbursed. Personnel allocations cannot be drawn as lump sums and require mandatory Financial Clearance to verify that all regulatory and fiscal conditions have been satisfied. Because final clearances from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission were never secured following the presidential assent on March 31, 2026, no recruitment occurred, no payroll accounts were opened, and zero funds were drawn or spent.

The controversy surrounding the council emerged in June 2026 when the presidency declared the entity fraudulent and initiated law enforcement investigations. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, identified as the promoter and director-general of the council, subsequently faced arrest and forgery allegations after disputing the presidency's claims and making counter-allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, who has since filed a defamation lawsuit. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria confirmed that while two foreign currency accounts were opened for the council on directives from the Accountant-General's office, both accounts remained unfunded and unoperated.