Reps Summon SGF, Key Government Officials Over PFIPC Office Allocation, Budget Controversy

The House of Representatives has summoned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to explain how the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) secured office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat.

The directive was issued on Monday during a public hearing of the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the circumstances surrounding the establishment, operations and inclusion of the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation framework.

The committee also invited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi; the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, and other relevant officials to appear before it on Tuesday, July 21, to provide explanations on the issues surrounding the council.

The PFIPC, reportedly headed by Adeyemi Adeniyi, has come under scrutiny over claims that it operated from the Federal Secretariat, maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and was included in the 2026 national budget despite questions over its legal status.

The committee’s decision followed testimonies from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

Appearing before lawmakers, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed that the office space occupied by the PFIPC was originally allocated to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.

She explained that while the council had requested approval of its organisational structure, the request was declined because it failed to provide the required documentation. Walson-Jack added that her office neither assigned personnel to the PFIPC nor approved office accommodation for the council.

Also testifying, the CBN’s Director of Banking Services, Hamisu Abdullahi, confirmed that the PFIPC was granted two accounts with the apex bank.

He disclosed that the accounts were opened after the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation wrote to the CBN on July 30, 2025, authorising the bank to proceed. Abdullahi explained that such clearance is a mandatory requirement before any government agency can open, close or alter bank account signatories.

However, he noted that although the accounts were successfully created, they remained dormant because no authorised signatories were presented to activate them.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), assured that the panel would thoroughly investigate the matter and unravel the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC’s operations and its inclusion in the federal budget.