See How BVN Exposed 23,306 ‘Ghost Workers’ On FG's Payroll

No fewer than 23,306 names are to be deleted from the Federal Government’s payroll.

A team probing multiple salary payments recommended 23,306 civil servants and some banks for thorough investigations.

The government has started deleting the indicted civil servants from its payroll, The Nation learnt yesterday.

It was also learnt that some of those affected have tendered their resignation letters to pre-
empt dismissal from service and prosecution.

According to a source, of 312,306 civil servants, whose bank accounts have so far been checked
through the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform, 23,306 have issues with their accounts.

The source claimed that with the adoption of the
BVN for salary payment, the Federal Ministry of Finance has so far checked the details of about 312,000 civil servants— a development said to
have led to the discovery of many irregularities in salary payment.

“Out of the accounts of about 312,000 civil servants processed so far, the ministry was said to have uncovered irregularities in the account of
about 23,306 of them, who were suspected to have been collecting double salary.

“These indicted individuals are in two categories.

In the first group, we found out that the names of some civil servants, whose salaries are being
processed, are different from the names on the
accounts where their salaries are paid. What A team probing multiple salary payments recommended 23,306 civil servants and some banks for thorough investigations.

The government has started deleting the indicted
civil servants from its payroll, The Nation learnt
yesterday.

It was also learnt that some of those affected have tendered their resignation letters to pre-empt dismissal from service and prosecution.
According to a source, of 312,306 civil servants,
whose bank accounts have so far been checked
through the Bank Verification Number (BVN)
platform, 23,306 have issues with their accounts.
The source claimed that with the adoption of the
BVN for salary payment, the Federal Ministry of
Finance has so far checked the details of about
312,000 civil servants— a development said to
have led to the discovery of many irregularities in
salary payment.
“Out of the accounts of about 312,000 civil
servants processed so far, the ministry was said
to have uncovered irregularities in the account of
about 23,306 of them, who were suspected to
have been collecting double salary.
“These indicted individuals are in two categories.
In the first group, we found out that the names of
some civil servants, whose salaries are being
processed, are different from the names on the
accounts where their salaries are paid. What this
means is either those in this category are
drawing salary from two sources (which could be
different agencies), or they are ghost workers,”
the source said.
The source added that the probe also showed
that salaries were being paid to some inactive
accounts, thus raising the suspicion that
government was merely making payment to
ghost workers.
But it was gathered yesterday that the Federal
Government has placed some banks under watch
for their roles in the salary scam.
The probe panel was said to have discovered
that some of the inactive accounts were
domiciled in a particular branch of a bank.
It was learnt that over 300 accounts of some civil
servants were opened on the same day and all of
them have become dormant.
The Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance on
Media Matters, Mr. Festus Akanbi, said last
night, “The public will be appropriately briefed
when the full report is ready.”
The adoption of the BVN became inevitable due
to the failure of the Integrated Payroll Personnel
Information System (IPPIS) to effectively deal
with the issue of ghost workers in the federal
civil service.
A source in the ministry explained that the
strategy of using BVN rather than requiring the
physical presence of each worker “significantly
simplified and accelerated the progress of the
project and at a lower cost than previously
incurred”.this
means is either those in this category are
drawing salary from two sources (which could be
different agencies), or they are ghost workers,”
the source said.
The source added that the probe also showed
that salaries were being paid to some inactive
accounts, thus raising the suspicion that
government was merely making payment to
ghost workers.
But it was gathered yesterday that the Federal
Government has placed some banks under watch
for their roles in the salary scam.
The probe panel was said to have discovered
that some of the inactive accounts were
domiciled in a particular branch of a bank.
It was learnt that over 300 accounts of some civil
servants were opened on the same day and all of
them have become dormant.
The Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance on
Media Matters, Mr. Festus Akanbi, said last
night, “The public will be appropriately briefed
when the full report is ready.”
The adoption of the BVN became inevitable due
to the failure of the Integrated Payroll Personnel
Information System (IPPIS) to effectively deal
with the issue of ghost workers in the federal
civil service.
A source in the ministry explained that the
strategy of using BVN rather than requiring the
physical presence of each worker “significantly
simplified and accelerated the progress of the
project and at a lower cost than previously
incurred”.