The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, on Monday admitted that the controversial Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council participated in the Federal Government’s budget process and obtained approval for 314 staff positions despite questions over its legal status.
Walson-Jack disclosed this while testifying before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the circumstances surrounding the existence and operations of the council.
She, however, maintained that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation did not create or establish the council, insisting that the approval of government agencies falls outside its constitutional mandate.
According to her, the council first approached the office on August 6, 2025, requesting approval for its organisational structure but failed to submit the required supporting documents.
She said the request was initially rejected but was later approved after further engagements, authorising a workforce of 314 personnel comprising 14 existing staff and 300 additional positions.
“The records of the Organisation Design and Development Department confirmed that the approved establishment was collected on behalf of the council by a representative of the PEAC/PFIPC,” she told lawmakers.
Walson-Jack further revealed that representatives of the council participated in the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence Exercise, where a woman identified herself as the Deputy Director of Administration led the agency’s delegation during bilateral discussions with officials of the civil service.
She explained that the fourth batch of manpower approvals covering 88 ministries, departments and agencies, including the council, was endorsed on July 18, 2025, by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Common Services Office, who was overseeing the Office of the Head of the Civil Service at the time.
The Head of Service stressed that no civil servant was deployed by her office to the council, noting that recruitment into government agencies is not handled by the OHCSF.
She also clarified that staff salaries fall under the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, while remuneration of political office holders is determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
Walson-Jack disclosed that the office occupied by the council at Phase III of the Federal Secretariat belongs to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which had been allocated the facility since November 16, 2023.
She added that matters relating to the establishment, supervision and administration of the council fall within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant government agencies.
The Head of Service also informed the committee that two officials linked to the approval process, Mrs Patricia Akhigbe and Jacob Oluwafemi David, had been handed over to the Nigeria Police for investigation.
Also appearing before the committee, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Yemi Cardoso, represented by the Director of Banking Services, Hamisu Abdullahi, disclosed that the apex bank opened two accounts for the council—a domiciliary dollar account and a pound sterling account.
He, however, said both accounts had remained dormant since they were opened.
Abdullahi explained that the CBN received a mandate from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on July 30, 2025, to open the accounts after completing the standard verification process, but no transactions had been recorded.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, said the anti-graft agency had commenced investigations into the matter.
Aliyu said investigators were gathering documents and interacting with relevant officials to establish how the council operated and gained official recognition.
Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said the investigation was aimed at uncovering facts surrounding the controversial council and strengthening public accountability.
He said the committee was not constituted to validate speculation or pursue political interests but to determine how the council appeared in government processes despite widespread uncertainty over its legal status.
Following the hearing, the committee resolved to summon the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Accountant-General, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Inspector-General of Police and other key government officials.
The panel also directed the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the appearance of the two civil service officials linked to the approval process when the investigative hearing resumes.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
