Ghost worker audit stalls as MDAs defy OAGF order
Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have failed to submit the verified list of account officers, despite repeated directives from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation aimed at eliminating ghost workers in the civil service.
The OAGF had initially set a deadline of February 14, 2025, to filter active employees from ghost workers and halt salary payments to unverified staff.
The deadline was later extended to April 16, 2025.
However, a memo from the OAGF office dated July 2, 2025, which was signed by the Director of Administration, OAGF, Dauda Abdulhamid, said, “I am directed to refer to our earlier circular ref. no.:OAGF/ADM/302/VOL. 175 dated 16th April 2025 on the above subject and to observe that your organisation is yet to submit its staff nominal roll as requested.
“In view of the above, all affected MDAs are requested to forward their duly completed nominal roll using the attached template on or before Monday, 7th July 2025, to avoid sanctions.
“Note that the submission must be in Excel format, accompanied by a scanned authentication sheet to the email address: director.administration@oagf.gov.ng. For further enquiries, please contact: 0802 423 7657, 0706 600 0900, or 0703 109.
“Kindly ensure that the content of this circular is disseminated to all pool staff to guarantee full participation in the exercise.”
Recall that in 2023, President Bola Tinubu ordered an audit of the federal civil service, following revelations of widespread payroll fraud tied to the Japa wave.
The President also directed that any civil servant who had relocated abroad while still drawing salaries from government coffers must refund the funds.
Furthermore, the President ordered that heads of departments and supervisors found complicit in enabling such fraudulent activities must face disciplinary actions.
