Governance
Payroll Scam: ICPC Flags 908 Ghost Workers Across MDAs
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers across federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), recovering about ₦942 million allegedly lost to fraudulent payroll payments.
ICPC Chairman, Dr.
Aliyu alleged that some senior public officials enrolled relatives and associates on government payrolls and diverted their salaries for personal gain. He cited a case in which a suspect allegedly placed his wife, son and mother-in-law on the payroll while also collecting the salaries of 12 other workers.
The investigation, which covered at least 50 federal MDAs, identified the Nigeria Police Force as having the highest number of suspected ghost workers, with 570 cases. The National Water Resources Authority recorded 80 cases, followed by the Federal Ministry of Works with 56.
Other affected institutions include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 24 cases, the Ministry of Defence with 19, and the Ministries of Power and Industry, Trade and Investment with 17 cases each. The Federal Ministry of Health recorded 15 suspected ghost workers, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had 12.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior were also implicated, although the ICPC said the number of affected names in both institutions has not yet been disclosed as investigations continue.
The commission said its findings highlight the scale of payroll fraud within the federal public service and the financial burden of maintaining fictitious employees on government payrolls, adding that investigations into the affected institutions are still ongoing.
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