… Names Of names of Wife, Son, In-Law Inserted

Daud Olatunji

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has recovered over N20 billion in pension deductions that were meant for genuine workers but were instead siphoned due to the inclusion of ghost workers in the Federal Government’s payroll.
The Chairman of the commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this, saying, it was part of the agency’s extensive efforts to clamp down on corruption within the public sector.

Dr. Aliyu made this disclosure during a breakfast meeting with select members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Abuja on Wednesday.
He revealed that the recovery was part of a broader initiative by the ICPC to expose and remove fraudulent practices, including the insertion of fictitious workers on government payrolls.

The ICPC Chairman explained that while pensions deducted from employees’ salaries are remitted to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), ghost workers’ pension contributions are not.
He added that Instead, they remain unaccounted for, leading to the accumulation of these funds in non-existent accounts.

“We have successfully tracked and recovered over N20 billion that was withheld due to ghost workers being included in the payroll,” Dr. Aliyu stated.

He further outlined some of the extraordinary cases the commission uncovered in its investigations, including the shocking discovery of a payroll entry for a 15-year-old boy, as well as the names of family members like a wife, son, and in-law being inserted into the government records by fraudulent individuals.

“These are the kinds of challenges we face and are determined to tackle,” Dr. Aliyu said, noting that the individuals responsible for such misconduct have been apprehended by the ICPC.

In addition to the pension recovery, the commission also highlighted its success in preventing the diversion of approximately N50 billion in 2023 alone.

In his address, Dr. Aliyu emphasized the vital role of the media in supporting the ICPC’s fight against corruption.

He underscored that the commission has employed strategic plans, including the unveiling of its Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028, aligned with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, to effectively combat corruption.

“We will always be proactive in making sure that we don’t allow certain things to happen,” he noted, adding that the commission’s operations would remain transparent, with verified information made available through press releases, newsletters, and social media.

The ICPC Chairman also called for a comprehensive review of the nation’s legal framework, urging that individuals convicted of corruption should be mandated to pay back the full amount involved, along with any applicable interest, into public coffers.

He recommended that such individuals be banned from holding public office for up to 10 years.

Dr. Aliyu stressed that the public’s tendency to glorify corrupt individuals contributes significantly to the moral decay in society, and he encouraged Nigerians to cease celebrating such individuals.
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The fight against corruption is not just about the work of the commission; it’s about a collective effort, and the media has been instrumental in this,” he said.

The Chairman praised the collaboration between ICPC and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), which has significantly improved communication and public engagement in anti-corruption efforts.

Ms. Hussaina Akila, the Director of News at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), commended Dr. Aliyu for initiating the breakfast meeting and fostering better media relations.

However, she urged the ICPC to consider providing comprehensive insurance for its operatives, as this would enhance their morale and effectiveness in carrying out their critical work.

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