The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has flagged the Nigeria Police Force and several federal ministries as major culprits in payroll fraud, uncovering hundreds of suspected ghost workers during its recent verification exercise.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), revealed that investigators identified 908 fake employees across at least 50 ministries, departments, and agencies, recovering about ₦942 million in fraudulent salary payments.
Ghost workers, according to the commission, are fictitious names inserted into government payrolls to siphon salaries. In some cases, officials allegedly add relatives or associates to payrolls despite them not being employed. One striking case involved a man who placed his wife, son, and mother-in-law on the payroll while also pocketing the salaries of 12 legitimate workers.
Institutions with the highest suspected ghost workers:
– Nigeria Police Force — largest number of fake employees uncovered.
– National Water Resources Authority — 80 suspected ghost workers.
– Federal Ministry of Works — 56 cases.
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs — 24 cases.
– Ministry of Defence — 19 cases.
– Federal Ministry of Electricity — 17 cases.
– Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment — 17 cases.
– Federal Ministry of Health — 15 cases.
– Office of the Head of the Civil Service — 12 cases.
Aliyu emphasized that the commission will continue to intensify investigations to dismantle entrenched payroll fraud networks within government institutions.
