In a shocking revelation, Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, the immediate past executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and current executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has been accused of nepotism and illegal employment practices.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters allege that Adedeji unlawfully employed his wife, Oluwatosin Adedeji, as Chief Accountant at the NSDC.
Adedeji, appointed to lead the NSDC by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2021, and later appointed as FIRS Chairman by President Bola Tinubu in September 2023, is now under scrutiny for these controversial actions. The documents reveal that Oluwatosin Adedeji was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the agency on salary grade level 14 (SGL14 Step 1) despite lacking the requisite public service experience and presenting “near empty files.”
Contrary to the council’s conditions of service, Adedeji himself signed his wife’s appointment letter instead of the Director of Human Resources Management, raising questions about the legitimacy and transparency of the hiring process. According to NSDC’s conditions of service, the Director of Human Resources Management is responsible for signing appointment letters for employees on SSL. 14 to 04, not the executive secretary.
The appointment letter, dated February 1, 2023, and signed by Adedeji, stated, “With reference to your application for employment to this organisation and your subsequent interview, I am directed to offer you appointment as Chief Accountant on Sugar Salary Level 04 Step 1 (equivalent to SGL. 14 Step 1), with effect from the day you assume duty. This appointment is in accordance with the terms and conditions of service of National Sugar Development Council.”
The Nigerian government’s establishment circular 2011-2023 outlines a strict process for recruitment and appointment into the federal civil service, which includes obtaining necessary waivers, adhering to manpower budgets, and ensuring equitable distribution of vacancies among states. Adedeji’s alleged actions appear to bypass these established procedures, calling into question the integrity of his leadership.
Attempts by SaharaReporters to reach Adedeji for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered, and a text message sent to his line was not returned at the time of this report.