The Federal Government has uncovered a total of 1,618 civil servants with fake employment letters in the service.
The discovery followed a move by the government in its efforts to block leakages and incessant infiltration of ghost workers in the civil service.
Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking during a media parley ahead of the 2023 civil service week.
The discovery, Yemi-Esan said, was made after the introduction of control mechanisms set up by the service to address loopholes identified in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
According to the Head of Service, 69,854 officers have been captured in the core Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs) across the six geopolitical zones of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
She added that the exercise has recorded continuous suspension of officers from the IPPIS platform for not uploading their records.
Yemi-Esan also disclosed that the government was working towards an upward review of the Duty Tour Allowances of civil servants.
“Presidential Committee on Salary Harmonization is working to review salaries to reduce the disparity. 40% of basic salary has been approved by FEC as Peculiar allowance with effect from January 2023. Also, we are working towards upward review of staff Duty Tour Allowance (DTA),” she said.
“On the issue of procurement of insurance cover for the federal government employees from 9th February 2023 to 8th February 2024; and payment of backlog of death benefits to over 1500 deceased officers to their beneficiaries from 2021 to date. On the third pillar of FCSSIP 25, the Office of the Head of Service has been working towards the implementation of HR Module of IPPIS with a view to bridging the identified gaps in the system. As you are aware, prior to the introduction of the current mechanisms put in place to drive the implementation of the IPPIS, the system was bedevilled with considerable leakages and wastes as well as the incessant infiltration of ‘ghost workers’, etc.
“Consequent upon the identified loopholes in the IPPIS, the Office introduced control mechanisms. Notable among others was the inauguration of a Committee on Enrolment of Newly Recruited Civil Servants on the 1st of March, 2021. Hence, this and other initiatives in accelerating the roll-out of the HR Module of the IPPIS have brought about the following: Detection of 1,618 fake/illegal employment letters; Continuous suspension of Officers from IPPIS platform for not uploading their records; Verification of 69,854 officers across the core MDAs in FCT and the six (6) geo-political zones.”
This comes a few days after the government of Benue State said it has uncovered no fewer than 2,500 ghost workers from the payroll of local government areas in the state.
In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has revealed what he believes is the best time for anyone to pray.
Omokri, known for his thought-provoking and controversial tweets took to his official handle on Wednesday to also highlight the effect of praying at such time.