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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives on Monday intensified its investigation into the controversial Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC), as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Didi Walson-Jack, confirmed that representatives of the body participated in the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence and obtained approval for 314 positions.

The disclosure came during the inauguration of the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the circumstances surrounding the existence and operations of the council, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi.

The probe follows growing public concern over reports that the council, whose legal status has been questioned, appeared in official government processes, including budget preparations and personnel planning, despite uncertainty surrounding its establishment and operational mandate.

Appearing before lawmakers in Abuja, Walson-Jack explained that while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has no authority to establish government agencies, it received a request from the council seeking approval of its organisational structure.

She said the request was first submitted on 6 August 2025 but was initially rejected because the required supporting documents were not attached.

According to her, after the necessary documentation was later presented, approval was granted for a workforce comprising 14 existing personnel already engaged by the council and an additional 300 positions.

She said: “The Council in question submitted a request to the OHCSF for approval of its organisational structure on the 6th of August 2025 without providing the requisite documents.

“The request was earlier declined due to non-submission of relevant documents. However, after the required documents were submitted, approval for a total workforce of 314 positions, comprising 14 existing officers engaged by the Council and 300 additional positions, was issued.”

The Head of Service also disclosed that official records showed the approved establishment was collected by a representative of the council.

“The records of the Organisation Design and Development Department further confirmed that the authorised establishment was collected on behalf of the Council by a certain gentleman who represented the PEAC/PFIPC,” she stated.
Walson-Jack further revealed that officials representing the council took part in the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence Exercise.

According to her, “Representatives of the Council participated in the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence Exercise. They were led by a lady who identified herself as the Deputy Director of Administration and appeared before officers of the Organisation Design and Development Department during the organisation’s bilateral manpower defence.”

She explained that following the engagement, the request was processed in line with existing administrative procedures and subsequently approved.

However, she insisted that the Office of the Head of Service never posted any civil servants to the council.

“Following the bilateral engagements with the Council’s representatives during the 2025 Annual Manpower Project Defence Exercise, the request was reviewed by officers of the Organisation Design and Development Department and, in accordance with the Office’s established administrative procedure, the fourth batch, comprising 88 Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies, including the Agency in question, was approved on the 18th of July 2025 by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, who was overseeing the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation at that time.

“There was no deployment of officers by the OHCSF to the Council because recruitment and placement of staff in agencies are not within the responsibility of the Office,” she said.

She also clarified that staff salaries and allowances are handled by other statutory agencies.

“Remuneration and emoluments of personnel are under the purview of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, while the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is responsible for the remuneration of political appointees and chief executive officers,” she explained.

Walson-Jack further disclosed that the office occupied by the council at the Federal Secretariat belonged to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

“The office occupied by the Council in Phase Three of the Federal Secretariat forms part of the office spaces allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation through a letter dated 16 November 2023,” she said.

She maintained that every matter relating to the council’s establishment, administration and supervision falls under the jurisdiction of the OSGF and other relevant government institutions.

The Head of Service also confirmed that two officials linked to the approval process had been released to the Nigeria Police for questioning.

According to her, Mrs Patricia Akhigbe, under whose supervision the approval was processed, alongside Mr Jacob Oluwafemi David, are currently assisting investigators.

She disclosed that the approval process was carried out manually because the electronic document management system was not functioning at the time.

“The approval was done using physical files because the management system was down during the period. I personally discovered that all the documents relating to the Council were fake, although this was after the matter became public,” she added.

Also testifying before the committee, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, represented by the Director of Banking Services, Hamisu Abdullahi, disclosed that the apex bank opened two accounts for the council.

He said one was a domiciliary dollar account while the other was a pound sterling account.

According to him, both accounts have remained inactive since they were created.

“The mandate to open the accounts was received on 30 July 2025 from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation through a letter dated 29 July 2025. The necessary verification was conducted, but no further instruction followed. There has been no inflow or outflow on both accounts from inception till date,” he said.

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu, informed lawmakers that the anti-graft agency had already launched its own investigation.

He appealed for more time to conclude preliminary findings.

“We have commenced investigation and collecting documents as well as interacting with officials that we feel are necessary in order to help us unravel this issue.

“I urge the Ad-hoc Committee to give the Commission a little time, maybe between today, tomorrow and the next day, so that we can return and inform the House how far we have gone and what we have discovered,” he said.

Declaring the investigative hearing open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the House Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, said the investigation was aimed solely at establishing the facts.

“The discussions surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council have dominated media reports, public commentary and policy debates regarding its legal status, institutional mandate, operational framework, relationship with existing agencies and, importantly, its appearance within the Federal Budget Framework despite widespread uncertainty regarding its establishment.

“These questions deserve clear, factual and authoritative answers. The House of Representatives has therefore not constituted this Committee to validate speculation or amplify controversy. Neither is this a political exercise. Our objective is simply to establish the facts,” he said.

He stressed that the investigation was about safeguarding public institutions rather than targeting individuals.

“This investigation is not about any individual. It is about the integrity of public administration. Conduct your proceedings with fairness and, as much as possible, protect the rights of every witness. Give every interested party an opportunity to be heard. Follow the evidence wherever it leads. Let your conclusions be guided neither by public pressure nor political convenience, but by facts, the Constitution and the law.

“The credibility of parliamentary oversight rests not on the conclusions it reaches, but on the integrity of the process by which those conclusions are reached. As the People’s House, we are committed to ensuring that every institution entrusted with public authority is subject to public accountability,” he said.

At the close of proceedings, the committee resolved to invite the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Attorney-General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation, Director-General of the Budget Office, Inspector-General of Police, as well as heads of several key agencies, including the Federal Character Commission, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

The committee also directed the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the appearance of the two officials from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service to provide further explanations on their roles in the matter when the investigation resumes on Tuesday.