The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers across federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), with about N942 million allegedly recovered from fraudulent payroll payments.
The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this while speaking on the outcome of an investigation launched in 2024 following the discovery of irregularities in pension payments.
According to the commission, the investigation revealed widespread manipulation of government payroll systems, including the insertion of fictitious names to divert public funds.
Aliyu alleged that some senior public officials enrolled relatives and associates on government payrolls and subsequently diverted the salaries for personal use.
He cited a case involving a suspect who allegedly enrolled his wife, son and mother-in-law on the government payroll while also collecting the salaries of 12 other workers.
Police top the list with 570 cases
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 recorded.
The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80 suspected ghost workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56.
Other institutions affected include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with 24 cases; the Ministry of Defence, 19; and the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of 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 in the investigation, although the ICPC said it had yet to disclose the number of affected names in the two institutions as investigations continue.
The commission’s findings highlight the scale of payroll fraud within the federal public service and the potential financial burden of maintaining fictitious employees on government payrolls.
The ICPC said investigations into the affected institutions are ongoing.
