The federal government has launched a fresh audit of the civil service payroll, aiming to identify and remove so-called “ghost workers” — particularly individuals who have relocated abroad but continue to draw salaries from Nigerian taxpayers.

This renewed effort stems from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 directive to eliminate payroll fraud in the public sector. The President has taken a firm stance, declaring that any civil servant who has left the country and is still receiving government pay must refund the money, stating unequivocally:

“Anyone who relocated abroad but kept collecting salary must refund the money. Period.”

But the clean-up won’t stop with the culprits alone. Supervisors and Heads of Departments (HODs) found to have enabled or concealed such cases will also face disciplinary measures.

In line with this directive, the Office of the Accountant General has now ordered all federal civil servants under Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to verify their employment status as part of an ongoing Service-wide Personnel Audit. Failure to do so before the stipulated deadline could result in individuals being officially declared ghost workers.

As the audit progresses, there are growing debates on how best to handle the situation. While some advocate for the public disclosure of the names of ghost workers to serve as a deterrent, others argue that efforts should be redirected toward addressing the root causes of the “japa” wave — the growing trend of skilled Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad.

The audit is expected to enhance transparency, strengthen the integrity of the federal payroll, and ensure that public funds are not misused. However, the long-term solution may lie in improving working conditions and restoring public trust in the Nigerian civil service system.