ICPC Exposes Ghost Payrolls, Recovers N24bn in Pensions

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), led by Chairman Musa Aliyu (SAN), revealed significant findings regarding ghost workers in government payrolls during a keynote address in Abuja on Thursday. The investigation uncovered an official who enrolled 14 family members into the payroll system and another who allegedly collected 13 salaries.

The ICPC identified approximately 900 suspected ghost workers, publishing their names and challenging them to prove their employment status. The commission spent a year investigating these cases, discovering that fictitious names were inserted into payrolls, often linked to bank accounts of other individuals.

Aliyu warned that the implications of ghost workers extend beyond salaries, potentially affecting pensions, housing, and health insurance. In 2024, the ICPC recovered over N24bn in ghost pension funds.

The commission is focusing on preventing corruption and ensuring proper execution of government projects, rather than relying solely on criminal prosecution.