“Office Space Used By PFIPC In Federal Secretariat Was Allocated To OSGF” – Head of Service Tells Reps.

Esther Walson-Jack, head of the civil service of the federation (HoS), says the office space used by the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) at the federal secretariat in Abuja was allocated to the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF).

Walson-Jack spoke on Monday when she appeared before the house of representatives ad hoc committee investigating the PFIPC controversy and the N1.3 billion allocated to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, is at the centre of the PFIPC controversy.

Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of operating the agency, claimed the chief of staff issued his appointment letter — an allegation Gbajabiamila has denied.

The presidency said the appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature was forged, while the chief of staff had earlier petitioned security agencies over the matter.

Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 by the operatives of the police intelligence response team (IRT) in Osun state.

Walson-Jack told lawmakers that although the council operated from an office in the federal secretariat phase III, the space was officially allocated to the OSGF.

“We can state categorically that the office of the head of the civil service of the federation did not allocate any office space to the PFIPC,” she said.

Walson-Jack said the PFIPC approached the office of the head of service on August 6, 2025, seeking approval of its organisational structure, but the request was initially declined because the council did not submit the required documents.

She explained that newly established organisations are expected to provide either an establishment Act, an enabling legal instrument or other valid documents establishing their existence before such requests are processed.

Walson-Jack told lawmakers that during the 2025 annual workforce projection and human resources exercise, officials of the PFIPC said the council was participating for the first time and was operating with personnel seconded from other government agencies.

She said the council also sought an authorised establishment and a recruitment waiver to employ substantive staff, informing the office of the HoS that 14 officials, including its director-general, were already in place.

The HoS said the council submitted copies of its director-general’s appointment letter and documents showing that it already had a budget code.

She said the request was included alongside those of other ministries, departments and agencies in the fourth batch of submissions approved on July 18, 2025, by the permanent secretary overseeing the office during her absence.

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