Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that all civil servants who have relocated abroad while continuing to draw salaries from the Nigerian government should refund the money.
Additionally, he has called for the punishment of the supervisors and department heads who facilitated this fraud.
The directive was issued by Tinubu on Saturday during an award night organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF) to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week. The event also served to honor outstanding civil servants in core ministries.
Expressing his dismay over the issue of ghost workers, Tinubu highlighted the situation during his recent visit to South Africa. He noted that he was particularly struck by revelations shared by the head of the civil service regarding employees who had relocated abroad without formally resigning but continued to receive salaries.
Tinubu stated, “During my recent visit to South Africa, I kept abreast of the week’s activities. I was particularly struck by the revelations shared by the head of the civil service regarding employees who had relocated abroad while drawing salaries without formally resigning.
“It is heartening to hear that measures have been taken to address this issue, but we must ensure those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made. The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected. Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch.”
“Our administration acknowledges the challenges the civil service is facing. I want to give you the assurance that we are committed to ensuring the welfare and development of all civil servants to deliver optimal performance for the growth of our nation.
“Over the past year, I have provided all the necessary support to the head of the civil service of the federation to ensure the continued stability of the civil service. I also supported the office in implementing far-reaching policies and reforms capable of improving efficiency and service delivery,” Tinubu added.
(NAN)
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
