Head of Service Confesses Due Diligence Lapse in PFIPC Recruitment Approvals

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has acknowledged a significant oversight by her office in the process of approving recruitment requests linked to the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Walson-Jack made this disclosure on Wednesday while testifying before a House Committee tasked with investigating the operations of both the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

During her appearance, the Head of Service conceded that her department had relied solely on documents provided by representatives of the organizations without conducting independent verification of their authenticity. She elaborated, stating, "My office received the Letter of Appointment and the Establishment Act and, based on those documents and also based on the interaction with the representatives of the PEAC and PFICP, we went on to issue the Authorised Establishment and later the Recruitment Waiver."

Walson-Jack further admitted that her office ought to have exercised greater scrutiny before granting these crucial approvals. She explicitly stated, "We now, having seen all the facts and observed all the documents, concede that we ought to have carried out more due diligence in the discharge of the duties of the office in issuing an Authorised Establishment and a Recruitment Waiver to the PEAC/PFICP."

Explaining the context behind the approvals, Walson-Jack pointed out that the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) had previously functioned as a temporary, ad hoc body, which might have contributed to the confusion. She added, "We do know that the PEAC used to exist as an ad hoc organisation on its own, and the documents that were presented had PEAC/PFICP. However, as I said, due diligence may have detected whether those documents were actually authentic."

The House Committee, led by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, who represents the Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, is currently investigating the activities of the PFIPC. This purported government agency faces serious allegations of fraudulent activities, and the committee is scrutinizing the circumstances under which it managed to secure official recognition and recruitment approvals from various government institutions.