Massive fraud: Over 43,000 ghost workers uncovered on the military payroll

– The federal government uncovered and removed 43,000 ghost workers from the military payroll

– Mohammed Dikwa, the head of the Continuous Audit team, revealed that N50 billion was saved through the audit of security agencies payroll

– He added that officers from the account departments of all the para-militray agencies were currently undergoing training on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System and the Government Management Information System

The federal government uncovered 43,000 ‘ghost workers’ on the military payroll.

Mohammed Dikwa, the head of the Continuous Audit team, has revealed that 43,000 ghost workers were uncovered and removed from the payroll of the federal government.

He also noted that N50 billion was saved so far through the audit of security agencies payroll.

Premium Times reports that Dikwa stated this speaking at a meeting between the Continuous Audit team, minister of finance and heads of para-military agencies held on Tuesday, May 24, in Abuja.

President Mohammadu Buhari had set up the Continuous Audit team to look into the payroll of all ministries, departments and agencies.

The audit team had already started the audit of the military payroll and enrolling them on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

READ ALSO: Ghost workers: 2 permanent secretaries, 6 directors suspended in Bauchi

“Since we started the continuous audit programme, we have saved about N50 billion and over 43,000 ghost workers have been removed from the payroll of the federal government.

“And as we go on, we are very sure that we will continue to reduce the cost of federal government payroll.

“Please note the cost is not related to ghost workers alone but with allowances which we believe have to be trimmed down so that we can manage the cost of governance,’’ he said.

Dikwa revealed that officers from the account departments of all the para-militray agencies were undergoing training on IPPIS and the Government Management Information System (GIFMIS). He added that at the end of the month all the agencies must be enrolled on the IPPIS and GIFMIS.

A few weeks ago, the federal government uncovered 37,395 ghost workers on the payroll of the Federal Civil Service.

Ibrahim Magu, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who made the disclosure, said that investigations revealed that the federal government had lost close to N1 billion to these ghost workers.

Meanwhile, President Muhammdu Buhari has directed the compulsory automation of payment of workers’ salaries and allowances as a means of reducing the cost of governance.

Kemi Adeosun, the minister of finance, noted that Buhari wants everybody to be on the automated payment system, which will lead to improvement in financial control and transparency.

The post Massive fraud: Over 43,000 ghost workers uncovered on the military payroll appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Nigerian newspapers | Read on NAIJ.COM.