The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has exposed the presence of 22,074 suspicious personnel on the payroll of the Federal Government, despite the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The investigation revealed that the government disbursed N37,103,337,614.40 last year to these questionable workers, who were found across various Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), tertiary institutions, and notably within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
According to the ICPC’s comprehensive review, 12,714 of these personnel were on the payroll but not listed in the service-wide nominal roll between January and December 2023, resulting in a monetary value of N34,808,740,634.37. Additionally, the review uncovered that 4,190 former police officers were still receiving salaries through the IPPIS system.
The ICPC’s report, part of an anti-corruption initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, highlighted multiple instances of payroll fraud. These included double salary payments, the use of fictitious names to divert public funds, operation of multiple IPPIS accounts, and the presence of ghost workers. Specifically, in the Ministry of Works, 212 officers with a monthly salary value of N31,986,324.40 were found on the payroll but not on the nominal roll.
The Nigeria Police Force was identified as particularly problematic, with thousands of former employees still listed on the payroll. The report detailed how 4,190 ex-employees received December 2023 salaries totaling N980,273,690.51, despite discrepancies in their records.
The IPPIS, launched in 2006, was designed to enhance the storage of personnel records, monitor staff payments against budgets, and prevent wastage and financial leakages. However, the ICPC’s findings indicate that the system has been compromised, leading to significant financial losses.
