The administration of President Bola Tinubu has come under criticism following the discovery of alleged fake government agencies operating within Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service.
The controversy began after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, uncovered the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, which had reportedly operated as a government agency despite questions over its legal status.
The organisation was said to have occupied an office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, where several government ministries and agencies are located. It reportedly had civil servants assigned to it and operated a website using the official government domain.
The agency also reportedly obtained approval to recruit more than 300 workers at a time when federal recruitment was restricted.
Although its website has since been taken down, its social media presence was still active at the time of the report.
A man identified as Adeniyi Adeyemi had presented himself as the agency’s director-general and was reported to have interacted with senior government officials, regulators, anti-corruption authorities and foreign diplomats.
The alleged agency was also included in the 2026 national budget, with about N1.3 billion allocated to it after the budget was signed into law.
Adeyemi later made allegations involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, claiming that money was demanded to facilitate his appointment. The Presidency rejected the allegations and said Gbajabiamila had no connection with the appointment letter in circulation.
The Presidency described the PFIPC as a fictitious organisation and accused Adeyemi of attempting to use the claims to avoid criminal responsibility.
President Tinubu subsequently ordered an investigation into the matter. A Federal High Court later issued an arrest warrant for Adeyemi, who was eventually arrested by police operatives and taken before the court.
The ICPC later announced the discovery of another organisation suspected to be operating without proper government approval. The body, known as the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was reportedly operating from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The second organisation was reportedly promoted by Prince George Buchi Nwabueze.
Following the discovery, President Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries allegedly linked to the unauthorised creation of the office. They were identified as M.S. Danjuma, Engr. Nadungu Gagare and Richard Pheelangwah.
The developments have raised concerns among Nigerians, with some questioning how organisations without clear legal backing could secure government offices, access official resources and operate for extended periods without being detected.
Some Nigerians who spoke on the issue described the situation as a sign of weaknesses within the country’s system of government administration.
Divine Akor said the discovery raised serious questions about the effectiveness of checks within the Federal Civil Service. He questioned how an organisation allegedly lacking proper legal approval could operate from government premises and interact with senior officials without being identified earlier.
Akor said legitimate government agencies should have clear laws establishing them, approved structures, supervising authorities and records that can be independently verified.
He argued that the reported cases suggested that some existing safeguards may have failed and called for stronger monitoring of government institutions.
Isaac Adeyemo said President Tinubu deserved recognition for ordering investigations but argued that investigations alone would not address the wider problem.
He said authorities should determine how the alleged fake organisations were able to secure government facilities and operate without early detection.
Adeyemo called for scrutiny of the offices and ministries responsible for supervising the Federal Civil Service and said any officials who helped establish or protect unauthorised organisations should also face investigation.
Blessing Ede also called for greater transparency, asking the Federal Government to determine whether the organisations gained access to public money, government facilities, official documents, contracts or other state privileges.
She suggested that the government publish a complete register of recognised federal agencies, including the laws that established them, to make it easier for members of the public to verify their status.
Ede also called for checks on organisations occupying government properties and audits of financial transactions linked to the alleged fake agencies.
Paul Ogbole, another commentator on the issue, called for officials found responsible for supervisory failures to be held accountable.
He argued that while the President could not personally monitor every government office, the executive administration remained responsible for ensuring that government institutions operated within the law.
Ogbole said the discovery should lead to a wider review of the systems used to create, recognise and supervise government agencies rather than ending with the arrest of individuals allegedly connected to the cases.
The latest developments have therefore renewed calls for stronger checks within the Federal Civil Service to prevent unauthorised organisations from gaining access to government offices, funds and official privileges.
The controversy has also placed additional pressure on the Tinubu administration to explain how the alleged fake agencies were able to operate within the federal government system and what measures will be introduced to prevent similar cases in the future.