-
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, tells the House of Representatives that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) never sought approval for its conditions of service, saying her office has no record of any request from the council.
-
Walson-Jack categorically denies claims that her office allocated accommodation to the PFIPC, explaining that the Federal Secretariat office reportedly used by the council belongs to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
-
The OHCSF says salaries and emoluments of agency personnel are outside her office’s mandate, while supervision and reporting lines of government agencies rest with their respective supervising ministries.
-
House of Representatives panel intensifies probe into the legal status, establishment, operations and use of government facilities by the PFIPC amid allegations that it operated as a fake presidential council.
July 20, (THEWILL) — The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, has told the House of Representatives that the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) never sought approval from her office for its conditions of service and was not allocated office accommodation through the federal civil service structure.
THEWILL reports that Walson-Jack disclosed the information on Monday while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee investigating the legal status, establishment and operations of the fake council headed by its Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi. The panel is probing allegations that the body operated as a presidential council without legal backing and made use of government facilities.
Responding to questions from lawmakers on whether the Office of the Head of the Civil Service approved the PFIPC’s conditions of service, Walson-Jack said there was no evidence that the council ever approached her office.
“The responsibility for approval of conditions of service of agencies. There is no record of such a request from the Council.”
She explained that while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service processes requests relating to conditions of service for federal agencies, no approval could have been granted because no application was ever submitted.
The OHCSF also clarified that salaries and other emoluments of personnel are outside the mandate of her office.
“Meanwhile, remuneration and emoluments of personnel are not under the purview of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, but under the purview of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, while the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is responsible for the remuneration of political appointees and chief executive officers.”
She said the clarification became necessary to clearly define the statutory responsibilities of her office in relation to government agencies.
Walson-Jack also dismissed suggestions that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service determines reporting lines or supervises the activities of the PFIPC or similar agencies.
“On the request for clarification on the reporting lines, supervision and oversight mechanisms for the Council within the civil service structure, our response is that the reporting lines, supervision and oversight mechanisms for the Council and other such agencies are not within the purview of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation”, she said.
Walson-Jack added that such responsibilities are exercised by the agencies themselves and their supervising ministries.
“These are, however, dealt with by the agencies themselves and their supervising ministries”, she disclosed.
According to her, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service has no statutory responsibility for supervising or administering the council.
OHCSF Denies Allocating Office to PFIPC
Addressing reports that the PFIPC operated from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, Walson-Jack categorically denied that her office allocated office accommodation to the council.
“However, while there is speculation that the Council occupied office space in the Federal Secretariat Phase III, 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 explained that the office address reportedly used by the council forms part of office accommodation officially allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“The office space indicated as the Council’s fiscal address in the Federal Secretariat Phase III is part of the office spaces allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, a letter dated 16 November 2023 to re-allocate as the infix for the use of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Presidential Aides.”
Her testimony effectively dissociated the Office of the Head of the Civil Service from any role in providing accommodation or administrative recognition to the council.
House Panel Deepens Probe Into PFIPC
The House of Representatives committee is investigating the activities, legal status and operational framework of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council following concerns over its establishment, authority and reported use of government facilities.
The lawmakers are seeking to establish whether the council was lawfully created, whether it misrepresented itself as a presidential body, and whether any public institution improperly facilitated its operations through the allocation of office space or other government support.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
