The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has discovered 22,074 suspicious individuals on the federal government’s payroll, despite efforts to implement a more transparent payment system.
News About Nigeria reports that these individuals were found across various government agencies, universities, and even the police force, and received a total of N37.1 billion in payments last year.
The ICPC found that 12,714 personnel were listed on the payroll but not included in the official employee roll, resulting in a financial impact of N34.8 billion.
The commission said 4,190 former police officers were still receiving salaries, highlighting the need for a thorough cleanup of the payroll system.
“It was discovered that 3, 228 of the 4, 190 have their records consistent in all parameters used for validation on the payroll such as the names, IPPIS numbers and account numbers,” the commission said.
“Conversely, the account numbers of the remainder 962 staff were compared with that on the payroll and the findings revealed that the names of staff and bank names were inconsistent.
“It was also discovered that none of the IPPIS numbers of the aforementioned number of staff on the payroll was found on the nominal roll.
“Further analysis revealed that the names, IPPIS numbers, and account numbers of 20 staff, who were not on the nominal roll, were found on the payroll given by IPPIS, amounting to a payment of N5,585, 256.13.
It was also discovered that 40 different staff members on the 2023 payroll had different IPPIS numbers, and one account was linked to different names. Of the 40 staff, 21 received double salaries.
“Furthermore, an account number linked to two officers revealed that the account is in the name of a company, Don Aks Ikoro Global. Some names do not match the account name on the nominal and payroll.”
