ICPC Recovers ₦942m After Uncovering 908 Ghost Workers

(ICPC. Photo by Daily Times Nigeria)

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) has recovered approximately ₦942 million in fraudulent salary payments made to people who did not actually work for the government after discovering 908 ghost workers dispersed throughout at least 50 federal ministries and agencies.

ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu, SAN, stated on Wednesday that the probe started in 2024 when the commission discovered improper pension payments, according to an online news outlet.

The ghost workers were reportedly listed on government payrolls and paid salaries despite never showing up for work, with the funds instead channelled into the accounts of those who had inserted their names into the system.

The report also quoted Barrister Musa Adamu as saying that the probe uncovered a case in which one individual had placed the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law on the government payroll, while also collecting salaries meant for 12 other ghost workers.

Aliyu further revealed that the investigation identified 570 suspected ghost workers within the Nigeria Police Force alone, the highest figure recorded among the affected agencies.

This was followed by the National Water Resources Authority with 80, the Federal Ministry of Works with 56, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 24, and the Ministry of Defence with 19.

Other institutions affected include the ministries of Electricity, Trade and Investment, and Health, as well as the Office of the Head of Service, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Ministry of Interior.

The commission disclosed that it had seized funds linked to the fraudulent payments and noted that investigations were still ongoing.