37,395 Ghost Workers uncovered On Federal Government Payroll

37,395 Ghost Workers uncovered On Federal Government Payroll

 – The federal government uncovered 37,395 ghost workers on the payroll of the Federal Civil Service 

 – The EFCC’s investigation has revealed that the federal government has lost close to N1 billion to these ghost workers 

– Ibrahim Magu, the EFCC boss, said that anti-graft agency had established a Procurement Fraud Unit in order to handle the increasing number of petitions relating to violations of the Public Procurement Laws 

 – He advised civil servants to avoid any act that was in breach of public procurement  Ibrahim Magu urged civil servants to avoid any act that was in breach of public procurement. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that the federal government uncovered 37,395 ghost workers on the payroll of the Federal Civil Service. Premium Times reports that Ibrahim Magu, the chairman of the EFCC, made the disclosure on Tuesday, April 19, during an anti-corruption sensitisation programme organised by the anti-graft agency for staff of works and housing sectors. “EFCC has uncovered 37,395 ghost workers in the Federal Civil Service and investigation is still going on. “Our investigations have so far revealed that the federal government has lost close to N1 billion to these ghost workers. “The figure will definitely increase as we unravel more ghost workers buried deep in Federal Civil Service payrolls,” he said.

The EFCC boss revealed that the anti-graft agency had established a Procurement Fraud Unit in order to handle the increasing number of petitions relating to violations of the Public Procurement Laws. Expressing serious concern, Magu urged civil servants to avoid any act that was in breach of public procurement. “Let me warn that civil servants found guilty under the Public Procurement Act risk terms of imprisonment ranging from five to 10 years, and in addition, may face dismissal from service. “The commission is determined more than ever before to rid all MDAs of all forms of fraudulent activities,” he stressed. Magu also announced that the EFCC was planning to place suggestion boxes for people to assist the commission in its anti-corruption war by dropping petitions and reporting of corrupt practices. In his speech, Abubakar Magaji, the permanent secretary (works and housing), stressed that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should be in the forefront of compliance with public service laws and regulations.

 

       “It is rather sad that over time, the laws, regulations and standard practice governing the operations of the public service are being neglected and often abused, in many cases with impunity. “The MDAs are expected to be in the forefront of compliance with extant laws and regulations, because they (MDAs), collectively, constitute the engine room of government. “They are responsible for implementation of government policies and programmes. Therefore, the success or failure of such policies and programmes are fully on the shoulders of public officers,” he concluded. Magaji announced that the works and housing sectors would regularly organize interactive sessions to re-orientate officers on the importance of compliance with laws, regulations and guidelines. On March 9, Kemi Adeosun, the minister of finance, revealed that the federal government would soon expose 11,000 ghost workers who have been on its payroll. She disclosed that her ministry was employing computer techniques to investigate the 11,000 affected cases and assured Nigerians that they would be informed on the money saved from the exercise.