Fresh details have emerged showing that the Federal Government approved a recruitment waiver for the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in August 2025, allowing the agency to employ 300 staff despite an existing embargo on general recruitment into the federal civil service.
The approval was communicated in a letter dated August 7, 2025, signed by Mimi Abu, Director of Organisation Design and Development in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The letter was also copied to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to the approval, the council was authorised to recruit personnel across several departments and grade levels. The positions included 10 directors on Grade Level (GL) 17, 20 assistant directors on GL15, 44 administrative officers, 45 planning officers, six statisticians, 32 commercial officers, 22 investment promotion officers, 26 accountants, 10 legal officers, 13 procurement officers, 11 programme analysts, 12 information officers, nine executive officers (accounts), nine executive officers (general duties), five data processing officers, three confidential secretaries, six technical officers, seven data processing assistants, and 10 motor drivers and mechanics.
The approval stated that the recruitment must remain within the agency’s 2025 approved establishment and instructed the council to obtain clearance from the Budget Office of the Federation before proceeding. It also directed that the recruitment comply with the Federal Character principle and reserve five percent of the positions for persons living with disabilities.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service further warned that the approved number of positions must not be exceeded and stated that its officials would monitor the recruitment process to ensure compliance. The agency was also instructed to submit the names of successful candidates after the exercise.
A day after receiving the approval, PFIPC Director-General Adeniyi Adeyemi publicly thanked President Bola Tinubu for granting the waiver. In his message, he also disclosed plans to establish PFIPC offices in all 36 states and expand the council’s presence with 127 offices around the world, describing the move as part of efforts to promote Nigerian businesses and attract foreign investment.
The council has, however, remained at the centre of controversy.
In June, the Presidency, through the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that the PFIPC was not recognised as an agency under the Tinubu administration.
Adeyemi rejected the claim and called on the President to set up an independent panel to investigate the matter.
Despite the controversy, the council reportedly received a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget, covering personnel, overhead, and capital expenditure.
Adeyemi is also said to have been operating from an office within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, where he has hosted diplomats, government officials, and organised public engagements.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has filed an eight-count criminal charge against the PFIPC Director-General.
Adeyemi has also alleged that the dispute surrounding the council began after he refused to surrender 48 percent of the agency’s take-off grant. He further claimed that he paid ₦400 million to secure his appointment and still had an outstanding balance of ₦200 million.
