The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 ghost workers across at least 50 federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), freezing about ₦942 million allegedly linked to fraudulent salary payments.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), told BBC Pidgin that the discovery followed a nationwide investigation launched in 2024 after the commission detected irregularities in pension payments.
He said the probe exposed a widespread payroll fraud involving salaries paid to fictitious employees.
Ghost workers are fictitious names inserted into government payrolls, allowing fraudsters to divert salaries into personal accounts.
According to the ICPC, one suspect allegedly placed the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law on the payroll while also collecting the salaries of 12 legitimate workers.
The Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected ghost workers, with 570 names identified during the investigation. The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80 suspected ghost workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded 24 suspected ghost workers, while the Ministry of Defence had 19. Other affected institutions include the Ministries of Electricity and Trade and Investment, with 17 cases each; the Ministry of Health, with 15; the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with 12; as well as the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior.
Aliyu said the commission has already frozen about ₦942 million believed to be proceeds of the payroll fraud and vowed that those responsible would be prosecuted as investigations continue.
