Nigerian Police Lead in 'Ghost Workers' Scandal as ICPC Exposes Over 12,000 Fake Staff on Federal Payroll | #NwokeukwuMascot

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ICPC Unveils Major Fraud Scandal: Over 22,000 Suspicious Workers on Federal Payroll, with Police Force at the Forefront | #NwokeukwuMascot

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered a major fraud scandal involving the Nigerian federal payroll system, identifying a staggering 22,074 suspicious personnel across various government bodies. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) stands out as the most implicated, with significant discrepancies highlighted in a recent ICPC report.

According to the ICPC, the financial impact of these 12,174 dubious personnel is estimated at N34,808,740,634.37. This revelation comes despite the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which was intended to streamline and secure payroll management.

The report indicates that last year alone, the federal government disbursed N37,103,337,614.40 to these questionable employees, reflecting a significant oversight in the IPPIS system. This finding stems from a comprehensive review initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration as part of a broader anti-corruption assessment.

The ICPC's analysis reveals that there were 12,714 personnel listed on the payroll of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) who were absent from the service-wide nominal roll between January and December of the previous year. Investigators also noted instances of tampering, manipulation, and alleged padding of the IPPIS with ghost workers and suspicious entries.

Among the most troubling findings is the discovery of approximately 4,190 former police officers still listed on the IPPIS payroll. The ICPC's probe highlights numerous fraudulent activities, including double salary payments, fictitious names, fake identities for embezzlement, and discrepancies between payroll records and nominal rolls.

In specific terms, 95 personnel across multiple MDAs were found with names listed on both payroll and nominal roll, yet inconsistencies emerged during identity verification through banking applications. Notably, eight of these individuals share the same surname, and one is linked to two separate IPPIS accounts.

The report also details the case of 24 workers from about 20 MDAs who were found to be receiving double salaries from their agencies and, in some cases, additional sources. At the Ministry of Works, 212 officers listed on the IPPIS payroll, amounting to a combined monthly salary of N31,986,324.40, were found missing from both the ministry’s nominal roll and the service-wide nominal roll.

The ICPC’s findings underscore a massive discrepancy between the payroll and the nominal roll, with a reported difference of 12,174 personnel. The total financial value of these discrepancies amounts to N34,808,740,634.37. The investigation into the NPF payroll, particularly for December 2023, revealed 350,028 names on the nominal roll versus 312,047 on the payroll, with 37,160 classified as “ex-employees” and 37,129 as “inactive.”

Furthermore, 4,190 former NPF staff, labeled as "ex-employees," were found to have received salaries totaling N980,273,690.51. Among these, 3,228 records were consistent with validation parameters, while the remaining 962 exhibited discrepancies between names and bank account details.

This extensive fraud investigation highlights severe weaknesses in the IPPIS system and exposes critical issues in payroll management across federal agencies. The revelations underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address corruption and ensure accountability within the Nigerian government’s payroll system.