President Bola Tinubu has mandated that civil servants who continue to receive government salaries after relocating abroad must refund the money. Additionally, he directed that their supervisors and department heads be sanctioned for allowing such fraud to occur under their supervision.
The directive was issued 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 honored outstanding civil servants in core ministries.
Represented by Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), President Tinubu expressed dismay over the existence of ghost workers.
“During my recent visit to South Africa, I kept abreast of the week’s activities,” Tinubu said. “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 President emphasized that the culprits must refund the fraudulently collected salaries and that their supervisors and department heads must be punished for their complicity.
Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing challenges in the civil service sector to ensure optimal performance. “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,” he said.
During the event, top prizes were awarded to outstanding civil servants, including a brand new 2023 JAC JS4 Luxury Model SUV, a two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, and a serviced plot of land measuring 400sqm. Dr. Mercy Ilori from the Ministry of Transportation won the star prize.
Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the HOCSF, also announced additional cash prizes and the donation of six Toyota Camry cars by the Nigeria Customs Service to support the 2024 Civil Service Week.
Dr. Ilori expressed gratitude on behalf of the awardees, thanking the Federal Government and Yemi-Esan for the recognition and support.
