In a decisive move to restore integrity to Nigeria’s public service, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive forensic audit of the Federal Government’s administrative and payroll systems. The directive aims to eliminate the persistent menace of “ghost workers” and dismantle unauthorized or “fake” agencies that have long drained public resources.
According to a statement released by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the sweeping audit will be overseen and coordinated by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy. The decision follows a Federal Executive Council resolution initiated after concerning findings were presented by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding systemic vulnerabilities, illegal agencies, and payroll inflation.
A Two-Pronged Approach to Public Sector Reform
The forensic investigation is structured into two interconnected phases designed to identify, trace, and rectify loopholes within the government’s administrative architecture.
1. Forensic Audit of Payroll and Financial Platforms
The first component of the audit will focus intensely on key government platforms, most notably the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). This phase aims to:
- Examine reported cases of payroll fraud and verify figures flagged by the ICPC.
- Trace the enrollment of unauthorized, fictitious, or ineligible individuals into the system.
- Review biometric, identity, access, and bank-account controls across the platform.
- Investigate integration points between the IPPIS and other critical financial platforms, including the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), Remita, and the Treasury Single Account (TSA), to establish if discrepancies stem from systemic flaws or deliberate manipulation.
2. Verification and Inventory of Federal Entities
The second phase of the directive mandates a rigorous verification process covering all federal departments, ministries, agencies, commissions, and parastatals. This component will:
- Establish a definitive and legally backed inventory of all existing federal bodies.
- Investigate how various entities secure budgetary allocations, official recognition, office facilities, and access to state resources.
- Assess internal auditing, procurement, and oversight structures to prevent unauthorized bodies from accessing public funds.
Upholding Transparency and Institutional Integrity
President Tinubu has stressed that the exercise must be carried out with the highest standards of professionalism, independence, and forensic rigor. To ensure a thorough investigation, the audit team has been granted full access to all relevant government records and will work in close coordination with the ICPC to align with existing prosecutions and asset recovery efforts.
Ultimately, the administration expects this audit to look beyond mere troubleshooting. The long-term goal is to fortify Nigeria’s fiscal governance, tighten institutional controls, and guarantee that public funds are strictly utilized for legitimate personnel and duly constituted state entities.