Despite working as a taxi driver in the UK, Adams continues to receive N150,000 monthly from his government job in Nigeria, due to an understanding with his boss. He told the BBC he kept the job as a fallback option if he chose to return.
Civil society organizations have condemned this practice, calling for stringent measures to restore accountability in the civil service. Auwal Musa of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre highlighted pervasive corruption and the lack of accountability, urging for a comprehensive audit and prosecution of those involved in unauthorized salary payments.
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Debo Adeniran of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership criticized the civil service leadership's dereliction of duty, stressing the need for strict oversight and accountability. Emmanuel Onwubiko of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria echoed the call for consequences for those responsible for enabling such practices.
The "japa syndrome," where civil servants relocate abroad without resigning, exacerbates the issue. Olusegun Elemo of the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative emphasized the need for thorough payroll audits and performance assessments to enhance productivity and accountability within the civil service. Notable cases of ghost workers in recent years underscore the extent of this persistent problem, with several high-profile audits revealing tens of thousands of fraudulent entries, saving the government billions.
