President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive requiring all civil servants who have relocated abroad while still drawing salaries from the Nigerian government to repay the funds. This mandate extends to punishing the supervisors and department heads who allowed this fraud to occur under their watch.
The President’s order was announced on Saturday during the award night organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to celebrate the 2024 Civil Service Week. The event also honored outstanding civil servants from various ministries.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, President Tinubu expressed his dismay at the discovery of “ghost workers” during a recent visit to South Africa.
“I was particularly struck by the revelations from the Head of the Civil Service regarding employees who had moved abroad while still receiving salaries without formally resigning,” said Tinubu. “It is heartening to hear that measures have been taken to address this issue, but we must ensure those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made. The culprits must refund the money they have fraudulently collected. Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting this fraud.”
The President reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that those involved are held accountable and that the misappropriated funds are returned to the treasury.
Acknowledging the broader challenges facing the civil service, Tinubu emphasized his administration’s dedication to improving the sector for optimal performance.
“Our administration acknowledges the challenges the civil service is facing,” he said. “I want to assure you that we are committed to ensuring the welfare and development of all civil servants to deliver optimal performance for the growth of our nation.”
Tinubu highlighted the support his administration has provided over the past year to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, aimed at ensuring the stability and efficiency of the civil service through significant policy reforms and improved service delivery.
