ICPC Uncovers 908 Ghost Workers, Recovers ₦942 Million in Payroll Fraud.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 ghost workers across several federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), recovering about ₦942 million allegedly lost through fraudulent salary payments.

ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, said the investigation began in 2024 after irregularities were detected in pension payments. According to him, the probe revealed widespread payroll fraud involving fake names inserted into government payroll systems to divert public funds.

Aliyu alleged that some senior public officials enrolled their relatives and associates as government employees and collected salaries on their behalf. In one case, a suspect allegedly added the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law to the payroll while also collecting the salaries of 12 other fictitious workers.

The investigation covered at least 50 federal MDAs. The Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected ghost workers with 570 cases. Other affected institutions include the National Water Resources Authority (80), the Federal Ministry of Works (56), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24), and the Ministry of Defence (19).

The Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment each recorded 17 ghost workers, while the Federal Ministry of Health had 15 and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had 12.

Aliyu added that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior are also under investigation, although the commission has not yet disclosed the number of affected workers in those institutions as inquiries continue.

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