The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 ghost workers across several federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), recovering ₦942 million in salaries and allowances that were allegedly paid to non-existent employees.
The anti-corruption agency disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) accounted for the highest number of ghost workers identified during the exercise, placing the security agency at the top of the list of affected institutions.
According to the ICPC, the discovery was made during ongoing payroll verification and personnel audits aimed at eliminating fraudulent salary payments and strengthening accountability in the Federal Government’s public service payroll system.
The commission said the verification exercise forms part of broader efforts to curb corruption, improve transparency and ensure that public funds are used for their intended purposes.
It revealed that the investigation led to the recovery of ₦942 million, representing salaries and other emoluments that had allegedly been paid to fictitious workers or individuals who were not entitled to receive government wages.
The ICPC noted that the payroll audit covered multiple federal MDAs, with discrepancies uncovered in personnel records and salary payments.
While the Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of ghost workers, the commission indicated that other ministries and government agencies also featured in the findings, although details of the affected institutions were not immediately disclosed.
The anti-graft agency said investigations are continuing to determine how the fraudulent entries were created and sustained within the government payroll system.
It added that individuals found to have facilitated the inclusion of ghost workers or benefited from the illegal payments would face appropriate administrative and legal sanctions.
The commission emphasised that eliminating ghost workers remains a critical component of the Federal Government’s public sector reform agenda, aimed at reducing waste, improving efficiency and safeguarding public resources.
Ghost workers refer to fictitious or ineligible individuals whose names are fraudulently inserted into government payrolls, allowing salaries and allowances to be diverted by corrupt officials.
The practice has long been identified as one of the major sources of financial leakages in Nigeria’s public service, costing the government billions of naira over the years.
The Federal Government has introduced several initiatives to address the problem, including the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), biometric verification exercises and periodic staff audits across MDAs.
Despite these measures, anti-corruption agencies have continued to uncover cases of payroll fraud, highlighting the need for stronger internal controls and regular personnel verification.
Public finance experts say sustained payroll audits and the deployment of digital verification technologies are essential to preventing the re-emergence of ghost workers and improving confidence in the management of public funds.
They also called for stricter sanctions against officials involved in payroll fraud, arguing that holding perpetrators accountable would serve as a deterrent to future abuses.
The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with relevant government institutions to strengthen payroll integrity, recover misappropriated funds and prosecute individuals responsible for financial misconduct.
The commission said it would continue monitoring personnel records and conducting compliance checks across federal institutions as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
