The Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) has exposed 1,618 civil servants with fake or illegal employment letters, according to Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. This revelation came during a media briefing in Abuja, as part of the 2024 Civil Service Week Celebrations.
Dr. Yemi-Esan highlighted that 69,308 civil servants have been fully integrated into the IPPIS after participating in the compulsory verification exercise. She emphasized that the verification process is essential for maintaining the integrity of the civil service payroll.
In her efforts to combat corruption within the civil service, Yemi-Esan noted that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has identified and investigated over 3,600 public servants.
“As a result of the cleaning up, many people who were not supposed to be on the payroll, including retirees, have been removed,” she said.
Yemi-Esan also addressed the issue of civil servants who have relocated abroad but continue to receive salaries from the Nigerian government.
“The Federal Government is going hard on them, as many of them are voluntarily resigning after the physical verifications,” she explained.
She warned that those found to be abroad without official permission will be dismissed after the ongoing verification process is completed.
In addition to tackling fake employment, Yemi-Esan reported on efforts to build the capacity of civil servants. Under the Structured Mandatory Assessment-Based Training Programme (SMAT-P), 8,905 workers have been trained as part of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021-2025).
Dr. Yemi-Esan also criticized some top officials for colluding to hide vacancies, allowing unauthorized individuals to remain on the payroll.
“It is a Nigerian thing. We are running hard against the culture that tolerates it,” she stated.
She expressed optimism that the ongoing verifications would lead to automatic job losses for those not in the country without authorization.
Reflecting on the progress made, Yemi-Esan noted, “What we discovered in the last month of that verification is that most of them are now resigning their appointment, which is a good development.”
These actions are part of a broader effort to ensure transparency and accountability in the Nigerian civil service, aiming to eliminate corruption and improve efficiency in government operations.