The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers across at least 50 federal ministries, departments and agencies, with the Nigeria Police Force recording the highest number.
ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) disclosed the findings during a briefing on the commission’s payroll verification exercise, revealing that about N942 million had been recovered from fraudulent salary payments.
The exercise exposed fictitious names inserted into government payrolls, allowing officials or their associates to divert public funds.
The Nigeria Police Force tops the list with 570 suspected fake workers collecting salaries without being on active duty.
The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80 ghost workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56.
Other affected institutions include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 24, the Ministry of Defence with 19, the Federal Ministry of Electricity and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with 17 each, the Federal Ministry of Health with 15, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with 12.
Aliyu highlighted shocking cases of abuse, including one individual who allegedly added his wife, son and mother-in-law to the payroll while also drawing salaries for 12 non-existent workers.
The ICPC said salaries were often diverted by officials who inserted relatives or associates into the system despite them not being employed by the respective agencies.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Interior were also listed among institutions affected by the payroll fraud, though specific numbers were not disclosed for them.
The ICPC chairman described the operation as part of broader efforts to sanitise the federal payroll and curb corruption in public service.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers across at least 50 federal ministries, departments and agencies, with the Nigeria Police Force recording the highest number.
ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) disclosed the findings during a briefing on the commission’s payroll verification exercise, revealing that about N942 million had been recovered from fraudulent salary payments.
The exercise exposed fictitious names inserted into government payrolls, allowing officials or their associates to divert public funds.
The Nigeria Police Force tops the list with 570 suspected fake workers collecting salaries without being on active duty.
The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80 ghost workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56.
Other affected institutions include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 24, the Ministry of Defence with 19, the Federal Ministry of Electricity and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with 17 each, the Federal Ministry of Health with 15, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with 12.
Aliyu highlighted shocking cases of abuse, including one individual who allegedly added his wife, son and mother-in-law to the payroll while also drawing salaries for 12 non-existent workers.
The ICPC said salaries were often diverted by officials who inserted relatives or associates into the system despite them not being employed by the respective agencies.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Interior were also listed among institutions affected by the payroll fraud, though specific numbers were not disclosed for them.
The ICPC chairman described the operation as part of broader efforts to sanitise the federal payroll and curb corruption in public service.
