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By Mercy Gadia
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, on Monday disclosed that the office occupied by the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was part of the spaces allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Walson-Jack made the disclosure in Abuja after the inauguration of an ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating the circumstances surrounding the council’s existence and operations, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi.
She said the allocation was conveyed through a letter dated November 16, 2023, adding that representatives of the council also participated in the 2026 budget process and secured a waiver for 314 positions.
According to her, matters relating to the establishment, administration and oversight of the council fall within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant government institutions.
The HoS, however, clarified that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation does not have the mandate to establish agencies, noting that the council had, on August 6, 2025, applied for approval of its organisational structure without submitting the required documentation.
She explained that the request was initially declined due to the absence of relevant documents but was later approved, covering 14 existing officers and an additional 300 positions.
Walson-Jack further revealed that records from the Organisation Design and Development Department showed that the authorised establishment was collected by a representative of the council.
She added that the council’s representatives participated in the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence Exercise and appeared before relevant officials during bilateral engagements.
“Following the engagements, the request was reviewed and approved as part of the fourth batch of 88 ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies on July 18, 2025, by the Permanent Secretary overseeing the office at the time,” she said.
She, however, maintained that no officers were deployed by her office to the council, stressing that recruitment and placement of staff fall within the purview of agencies.
The HoS also stated that remuneration matters are handled by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, while the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission oversees the remuneration of political appointees.
She disclosed that two officials linked to the approval process, Mrs Patricia Akhigbe and Mr Jacob Oluwafemi David, had been released to the Nigeria Police for questioning.
Walson-Jack further revealed that the approval was processed using physical files due to a system downtime, adding that she later discovered that all documents relating to the council were fake after the matter became public.
In his submission, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Yemi Cardoso, represented by the Director of Banking Services, Mr Hamisu Abdullahi, said the apex bank opened two accounts for the council, a domiciliary dollar account and a pound sterling account.
He, however, noted that both accounts had remained inactive since their creation.
“The mandate to open the accounts was received on July 30, 2025, from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Necessary verification was carried out, but no transaction has occurred on the accounts,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Mr Musa Aliyu, said the commission had commenced investigations into the matter.
He added that the agency was currently reviewing documents and engaging relevant officials, urging the committee to grant it a few days to provide a detailed update.
Declaring the hearing open, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said the probe was aimed at establishing facts amid widespread public concern.
“These questions deserve clear, factual and authoritative answers. The House has not constituted this committee to validate speculation or amplify controversy. Our objective is to establish the facts,” he said.
Abbas stressed that the investigation was not targeted at individuals but at safeguarding the integrity of public administration, urging the committee to be guided strictly by evidence and the law.
The committee subsequently resolved to invite key officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of Finance, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Attorney-General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation, Director-General of the Budget Office, Inspector-General of Police, and heads of relevant commissions.
The investigative hearing is expected to continue on Tuesday at 10am with the appearance of the Minister of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation, while the Inspector-General of Police has been directed to ensure the presence of two OHCSF officials to clarify their roles in the matter.