PFIPC occupied OSGF office since 2023, secured 314 staff positions — Walson-Jack

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has disclosed that the office occupied by the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) at the Phase III Federal Secretariat in Abuja is part of the office accommodation allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) since November 16, 2023.

Walson-Jack made the disclosure on Monday while testifying before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the controversial council, which is currently under investigation over allegations that it operated without a valid legal foundation.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, is probing how the council gained access to government facilities, participated in official processes and appeared in the 2026 federal budget, despite growing concerns about its legal status.

According to the Head of Service, all matters relating to the establishment, administration, supervision and operational oversight of the PFIPC fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant government institutions, not the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.

She clarified that while the council occupied office space within the Federal Secretariat, the accommodation formed part of office allocations made to the OSGF through an official letter dated November 16, 2023, dispelling suggestions that the office was recently allocated.

Walson-Jack revealed that the PFIPC submitted an application on August 6, 2025, requesting approval for its organisational structure. She explained that the request was initially rejected because the council failed to provide the mandatory legal and supporting documents required for such approval.

However, after further engagements, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service approved an authorised establishment comprising 14 existing personnel and 300 additional positions, bringing the council’s total approved workforce to 314 positions.

She further disclosed that records from the Organisation Design and Development (ODD) Department showed that the approved establishment documents were collected by a representative of the council. She also confirmed that representatives of the PFIPC participated in the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence Exercise, where they defended the agency’s manpower projections before officials of the Organisation Design and Development Department.

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Following the bilateral defence sessions, the council’s request was included among the fourth batch of 88 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) whose manpower proposals received approval on July 18, 2025, by the then Permanent Secretary overseeing the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.

Despite the manpower approval, Walson-Jack stressed that her office never deployed civil servants to the PFIPC. She explained that recruitment and placement of personnel remain the responsibility of individual government agencies, while salary administration falls under the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). She added that remuneration for political office holders and chief executives is determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The Head of Service further disclosed that the council’s organisational approval was processed manually because the electronic document management platform was temporarily unavailable at the time. However, after the controversy surrounding the council became public, her office carried out further verification and discovered that the documents submitted by the organisation were fraudulent.

According to Walson-Jack, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service has since strengthened its internal verification procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. She also confirmed that two officials linked to the processing of the council’s documentation—Mrs. Patricia Akhigbe and Jacob Oluwafemi David—have been released to the Nigeria Police Force to assist ongoing investigations.

Also appearing before the committee, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed that it opened two foreign currency accounts for the PFIPC after receiving a request from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation dated July 29, 2025. Representing CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso, the Director of Banking Services, Hamisu Abdullahi, said the apex bank opened a US Dollar domiciliary account and a Pound Sterling account after carrying out standard verification procedures.

He, however, clarified that both accounts have remained completely inactive, with no deposits, withdrawals or financial transactions recorded since they were opened.

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), informed lawmakers that the anti-corruption agency has commenced a full investigation into the matter. According to him, investigators are collecting documents, interviewing relevant government officials and tracing the administrative processes that enabled the council to obtain official recognition. He requested additional time to present the commission’s preliminary findings to the House committee.

Declaring the investigative hearing open, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, said the investigation is intended to establish the facts rather than fuel speculation. He noted that questions surrounding the legal status, operational framework and budgetary appearance of the PFIPC have generated significant public concern.

The Speaker urged the committee to conduct its assignment fairly, objectively and strictly in line with the Constitution and available evidence. To broaden the investigation, the committee resolved to invite several top government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Ministers of Finance and Budget and Economic Planning, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Budget Office, and the heads of relevant federal agencies.

The hearing is expected to continue with additional testimonies as lawmakers seek to establish how the council secured office accommodation, manpower approvals and access to government processes despite questions over its legal status.

PFIPC occupied OSGF office since 2023, secured 314 staff positions — Walson-Jack

Pandemonium in Osogbo as NURTW protest shuts motor parks, police deploy tactical teams

Commercial and transportation activities were severely disrupted across Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Monday after widespread protests by factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) forced the closure of major motor parks amid allegations of escalating violence and insecurity.

The unrest, which caused panic among residents and commuters, followed reports of sporadic gunfire in parts of the city from about 10:00 a.m., prompting security agencies to deploy tactical operatives to restore order.

The protest, which began as early as 6:30 a.m., saw transport workers, civil society groups and students converge on key motor parks across Osogbo, demanding urgent intervention from the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies over what they described as persistent attacks on transport operators.

According to the protesting union members, the demonstrations were triggered by a series of violent incidents that have disrupted transport activities, forced many drivers off the roads and left passengers afraid to use public transport.

Leading the protest, the factional Secretary of the NURTW, Fatai Oyegoke, accused the Nurudeen Alowonle-led leadership of turning motor parks into “battlefields” through repeated violent clashes.

He alleged that transport workers had endured several days of attacks allegedly linked to Nurudeen Alowonle and Sikiru Oyeniyi, popularly known as Ado Igona, resulting in widespread fear and economic losses.

“Businesses have collapsed. Drivers have fled. Passengers are afraid. We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to intervene immediately and restore peace to our motor parks,” Oyegoke said.

He further alleged that the crisis was connected to the killing of Adelodun Olamilekan Lateef, claiming the incident triggered a series of reprisal attacks across transport hubs in the state.

The protesters also claimed that an innocent child and a septuagenarian sustained gunshot injuries during the violence. However, the police had not officially confirmed those allegations as of the time of filing this report.

Carrying placards demanding the arrest of Nurudeen Alowonle and Sikiru Oyeniyi, the demonstrators called for a comprehensive overhaul of security arrangements at motor parks across Osun State, insisting that normal transport operations could not resume without adequate protection.

The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) also joined the protest, with its factional Secretary, Akeem Kareem, condemning the worsening security situation and urging authorities to restore order.

Similarly, the Local Government Development Initiative (LGDI) criticised what it described as the failure of the state’s security architecture.

Its Director of Mobilisation, Comrade Omololu Abidoye, urged security agencies to investigate everyone allegedly connected to the violence, stressing that political interests should never be allowed to override public safety.

“Motor parks belong to the people, not to criminals. We cannot continue to witness violence while innocent citizens suffer,” Abidoye said.

Responding to the unrest, the Osun State Police Command confirmed that it had deployed tactical teams, patrol vehicles and additional security personnel to major flashpoints across Osogbo to prevent further violence.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Zachariah Ojelabi, said officers responded immediately after receiving reports of the disturbances and had restored normalcy to affected locations.

“We have swung into action immediately the incident was reported. Our officers are on the ground across strategic locations to prevent any breakdown of law and order,” he said.

Ojelabi assured residents that the command would not tolerate violence, intimidation or acts of thuggery, warning that anyone found culpable would be arrested and prosecuted.

He also urged transport unions, community leaders and members of the public to remain calm and channel grievances through lawful means rather than resorting to violence.

By Monday afternoon, heavily armed security operatives had taken positions at major motor parks and key intersections across Osogbo to reassure residents and prevent any further disruption of commercial activities.

Reacting to the crisis, Governor Ademola Adeleke condemned the disruption of public peace and called on security agencies to arrest Asiri Eniba and others he alleged were responsible for the attacks.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the reported shootings around Old Garage and other motor parks as unacceptable and urged security agencies to take immediate action to restore order.

Governor Adeleke also alleged that videos circulating on social media showed armed individuals causing unrest in parts of Osogbo and said he had already contacted the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other security chiefs to demand urgent intervention.

He warned that if the violence persisted, his administration might reconsider the current management structure of motor parks and restore the Park Management System previously used across the state.

The latest disturbances come amid heightened political and security tensions in Osun State, with stakeholders expressing concern that continued violence around motor parks could threaten public safety, disrupt economic activities and undermine confidence in the state’s transport system.

Security analysts say sustained intelligence gathering, prompt law enforcement action and dialogue among transport unions will be crucial to preventing further clashes and maintaining peace across the state.

Authorities have appealed to residents to remain vigilant, avoid spreading unverified information and report suspicious activities through official security channels as investigations into the incidents continue.

Pandemonium in Osogbo as NURTW protest shuts motor parks, police deploy tactical teams

Reps Probe ₦1.32 Billion ‘Fake Agency’ Scandal as Critics Slam Gbajabiamila’s Exclusion from Inquiry

The House of Representatives has launched a formal investigation into how an unestablished agency, the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), secured a ₦1.32 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, even as some lawmakers and public affairs analysts question the credibility of the probe over the decision not to invite President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas inaugurated the ad hoc committee today at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, with the panel scheduled to hold its first public hearing in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to investigate matters relating to public institutions and the management of public funds . The investigation follows the arrest of self-proclaimed PFIPC Director-General, Adeyemi Adeniyi, who is accused of orchestrating the inclusion of the agency in the 2026 budget despite its non-existence .

The controversy has drawn significant public attention after it emerged that the PFIPC was never legally established by the Nigerian government and had no basis under any law, presidential instrument, executive approval, or other lawful government authorization . President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the PFIPC, ordering the anti-corruption agency to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days . The ICPC has been directed to investigate allegedly forged appointment letters, the use of false claims of presidential appointment to obtain official recognition, and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents .

The ad hoc committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, has been tasked with investigating how the PFIPC found its way into the national budget with a whopping N1,302,978,784 allocation, comprising N802,978,783 for personnel costs, N200,000,001 for overheads, and N300,000,000 for capital expenditure . According to the presidency, the PFIPC was never established by the federal government, yet it reportedly secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and operated bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria . The panel will trace the budgetary provision from the executive’s proposal through the legislative process to identify the exact stage at which the allocation was introduced and determine whether any government processes were compromised .

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A notice signed by Gagdi has invited several top government officials to appear before the committee, including the Ministers of Budget and Economic Planning, Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment, Justice, and Foreign Affairs . Others summoned include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC, the Auditor-General for the Federation, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Inspector-General of Police . Civil society organisations, professional bodies, development partners, and members of the public have also been invited to submit memoranda relating to the committee’s terms of reference .

However, the committee’s decision not to invite either Gbajabiamila or Adeniyi has drawn sharp criticism, with some lawmakers questioning the transparency of the investigation. A member of the committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment over the omission, arguing that the two central figures in the controversy should have been among the first witnesses called. “From the notice, you will see that the two central figures are not invited. I mean Gbajabiamila and Adeyemi. There is an obvious attempt to exempt Gbajabiamila, and that is an attempt by the committee to clear him. From the notice of invitation, there is already a bias,” the lawmaker said .

Public affairs analyst Jackson Ojo also faulted the decision, arguing that inviting the Chief of Staff was necessary to ensure a transparent investigation. “The committee is starting on the wrong footing. They should have invited the Chief of Staff to clear his name. As important as the invited government officials are to the investigation, they are not as important as Gbajabiamila. The man taken into custody mentioned the Chief of Staff. So, why is he not part of those to field questions from the lawmakers?” he asked .

The controversy erupted after Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the PFIPC Director-General, was arrested by police operatives in Osun State following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja . Adeniyi had failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation . Police forensic analysis confirmed that the signature of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the disputed appointment letter had been forged . Adeniyi is accused of forging presidential letterheads and fabricating requests for office accommodation purportedly originating from the State House .

The scandal deepened after Adeniyi allegedly claimed he paid ₦100 million through proxies to Gbajabiamila to facilitate the establishment of the agency . Gbajabiamila has denied the allegations and filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi, seeking N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages, and an order compelling him to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers . Both the Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff have denied the allegation, with Gbajabiamila stating he had never met Adeniyi .

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has called for an independent panel of inquiry, arguing that the scale of the allegations suggests official backing beyond the actions of a few individuals. The Guild noted that an account was reportedly opened for the council at the Central Bank of Nigeria, the agency was captured in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, office accommodation was allocated within the Federal Secretariat Complex, and more than 300 personnel, including eight directors, were reportedly recruited to work for the council . These developments, if established through investigation, suggest that the activities attributed to the council went far beyond the actions of a few individuals and may have involved approvals or support from influential actors within government . The Guild maintained that no public official, irrespective of rank or political influence, should be insulated from investigation where credible allegations exist .

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu revealed during plenary that he had personally met representatives of the disputed organisation after his office received what appeared to be an official government letter. According to Kalu, the correspondence identified the organisation as both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC) and carried the Presidency’s insignia, a Federal Secretariat address, and a “.gov.ng“ website . He said the delegation appeared more interested in taking photographs than discussing policy matters during the meeting . Meanwhile, the Senate has resolved to await the outcome of the ICPC investigation before proceeding with its own legislative probe .

Reps Probe ₦1.32 Billion ‘Fake Agency’ Scandal as Critics Slam Gbajabiamila’s Exclusion from Inquiry