The Federal Government has initiated a comprehensive personnel audit across its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to tackle the growing issue of ‘ghost workers’—individuals still receiving salaries despite having exited the service, many of whom have reportedly relocated abroad under the popular ‘japa’ trend.
This latest move, led by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), was announced via an official memo signed by Dauda Abdulhamid, Director of Administration at the OAGF.
The circular, directed to Directors of Finance, Audit, and Federal Pay Offices, outlines a Service-wide Nominal Roll Update and a personnel audit across all MDAs under the OAGF’s pool.
A Clampdown on Payroll Fraud
The audit, according to the memo, is in line with the Accountant-General’s efforts to establish a centralised and reliable personnel database.
“The AGF has approved the conduct of a Personnel Audit Exercise across the Headquarters, Federal Pay Offices, and all MDAs,” the circular stated.
All relevant MDAs have been instructed to complete and submit a detailed personnel template along with a scanned authentication sheet by 2 May 2025. Submissions are to be made via email to the Office of the Director of Administration.
Targeting Ghost Workers Fuelled by the Japa Wave
The initiative follows revelations of civil servants who, after relocating abroad, continued receiving salaries from the federal payroll—an issue President Bola Tinubu vowed to address head-on.
In 2023, the President ordered an audit of the civil service, stressing that any official found guilty of aiding such fraud must face disciplinary action.
As part of that directive, civil servants who have permanently moved abroad and are still on the payroll are expected to refund all unlawfully earned salaries. Tinubu also warned that supervisors or department heads found to have enabled such fraud will be held accountable.
Background: The Growing Cost of Brain Drain
The ‘japa’ phenomenon, marked by a sharp increase in Nigerians emigrating in search of better opportunities abroad, has left significant gaps in the country’s workforce.
While the trend affects many sectors, the civil service has been particularly vulnerable to abuse, with reports of emigrated staff continuing to earn salaries despite abandoning their posts.
The government now appears determined to stem this loss and restore financial integrity to its payroll system.
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