The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered cases of alleged payroll fraud in which government officials enrolled family members on public payrolls to collect multiple salaries.
ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu disclosed the findings on Thursday in Abuja, describing the cases as part of wider investigations into ghost workers and other forms of payroll abuse in government.
According to Aliyu, investigators discovered one government official who had enrolled 14 members of his family on the public payroll.
In another case, an official allegedly enrolled his wife, daughter, son and other relatives, resulting in the individual receiving 13 salaries.
The disclosures highlight the weaknesses that can occur when payroll systems are manipulated to create fictitious or unauthorised beneficiaries.
ICPC Uncovers Hundreds of Suspected Ghost Workers
The latest revelations form part of the commission’s wider efforts to identify ghost workers and recover funds linked to payroll fraud.
The ICPC previously disclosed that investigations had identified 908 suspected ghost workers across 50 federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The commission has also secured a final forfeiture order covering ₦941.99 million allegedly linked to suspected ghost workers uncovered through investigations into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
The scale of the investigations suggests that payroll fraud extends beyond isolated cases and can involve weaknesses across multiple government institutions.
More Than a Prosecution Problem
Aliyu said the commission was increasingly focusing on preventing corruption and identifying weaknesses in government systems rather than relying solely on criminal prosecutions.
He argued that preventing fraudulent practices before public funds are lost could be more effective than pursuing large numbers of criminal cases after the money has already been diverted.
The approach places greater emphasis on strengthening payroll verification, monitoring government databases and ensuring that public-sector employment records correspond with genuine employees.
Public Funds at Risk
Ghost-worker schemes can create a direct financial burden on government because salaries are paid to people who are not legitimately employed or entitled to receive them.
Beyond the immediate financial loss, such practices can undermine public confidence in government institutions and make it more difficult to determine the actual size and staffing needs of public agencies.
The ICPC’s findings therefore raise broader questions about how government payroll systems are monitored and how quickly suspicious entries can be detected.
The commission’s continuing investigations will determine the extent of the alleged fraud and the individuals who may face further administrative or legal action.
