[Nigeria] ICPC uncovers 908 fake workers across federal ministries, departments and agencies

In Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the discovery of 908 fake workers across several federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), in a payroll fraud alleged to have totalled hundreds of millions of naira, The Guardian reports.

According to the ICPC, it recovered about N942 million allegedly linked to fraudulent salary payments made to fictitious employees.

Musa Aliyu - chairman of the ICPC - reportedly said the discovery followed an investigation launched by the commission in 2024 after it detected irregularities in pension payments.

Mr Aliyu said the investigation uncovered cases of senior officials allegedly enrolling relatives and associates on payrolls and diverting the salaries for personal benefit.

He said investigators found a suspect who had allegedly put the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law on the payroll in addition to collecting the salaries of 12 other workers.

The ICPC chairman added that the probe impacted at least 50 ministries, departments and agencies, with some institutions recording significantly higher numbers of fake workers than others.

The Nigeria Police Force reportedly led the list with 570 suspected fake workers.

The National Water Resources Authority reportedly had 80 fake workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded 24 fake workers, while the Ministry of Defence had 19.

The Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment were found to have 17 fake workers each, the Federal Ministry of Health had 15, and the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had 12.

The ICPC chairman reportedly stated that the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior were among the agencies where fake workers were uncovered.

The chairman did not disclose the number of affected names in those institutions. Investigations continue.

Source: The Guardian

In Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the discovery of 908 fake workers across several federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), in a payroll fraud alleged to have totalled hundreds of millions of naira, The Guardian reports.

According to the ICPC, it recovered about N942 million allegedly linked to fraudulent salary payments made to fictitious employees.

Musa Aliyu - chairman of the ICPC - reportedly said the discovery followed an investigation launched by the commission in 2024 after it detected irregularities in pension payments.

Mr Aliyu said the investigation uncovered cases of senior officials allegedly enrolling relatives and associates on payrolls and diverting the salaries for personal benefit.

He said investigators found a suspect who had allegedly put the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law on the payroll in addition to collecting the salaries of 12 other workers.

The ICPC chairman added that the probe impacted at least 50 ministries, departments and agencies, with some institutions recording significantly higher numbers of fake workers than others.

The Nigeria Police Force reportedly led the list with 570 suspected fake workers.

The National Water Resources Authority reportedly had 80 fake workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded 24 fake workers, while the Ministry of Defence had 19.

The Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment were found to have 17 fake workers each, the Federal Ministry of Health had 15, and the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had 12.

The ICPC chairman reportedly stated that the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior were among the agencies where fake workers were uncovered.

The chairman did not disclose the number of affected names in those institutions. Investigations continue.

Source: The Guardian