By Peter Jene
In a stunning revelation that underscores the deep-seated corruption within Nigeria’s civil service, a United Kingdom-based taxi driver has been found to be on the payroll of the Nigerian government. This shocking discovery has triggered widespread outrage and calls for immediate and stringent reforms to root out entrenched corruption in the system.
The Revelation
The scandal came to light when a 36-year-old Nigerian civil servant, referred to by the pseudonym Sabitu Adams, disclosed to the BBC that he has been receiving a monthly salary of N150,000 from his government job in Nigeria while working as a taxi driver in the UK. Adams, who relocated to the UK in 2022, revealed that he continues to draw his salary due to an understanding with his boss back home.
“When I heard about the President’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried,” Adams said, referring to President Bola Tinubu’s recent crackdown on civil servants fraudulently drawing salaries while living abroad.
Presidential Crackdown
President Tinubu’s administration has been under immense pressure to tackle corruption, which has plagued Nigeria for decades. Last week, the President ordered a thorough investigation and crackdown on civil servants who were still collecting salaries despite migrating abroad.
“The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected,” Tinubu declared, in a move aimed at restoring public trust and accountability in the civil service.
Civil Society’s Outcry
Civil society organizations and anti-corruption advocates have seized upon this scandal to highlight the pervasive corruption within Nigeria’s civil service. Auwal Musa, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, expressed alarm over the lack of accountability in the system.
“I think the lack of accountability in governance is the crux of the matter because if people who are not supposed to collect salaries are still collecting, it can mean that some people are coordinating to short-change the nation. This can only happen because of the bastardization of the civil service system. Everything is corrupted,” Musa said.
Calls for Stringent Measures
Civil society leaders are calling for comprehensive audits and the prosecution of those involved in unauthorized salary payments. They argue that without decisive action, corruption will continue to undermine the effectiveness of the civil service.
Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, criticized the dereliction of duty by civil service leaders. He emphasized the need for rigorous supervision and accountability from top officials.
“It is an admission of dereliction of duty and it is enough for the Head of the Civil Service to be fired because it is her job to ensure that every civil servant is at his duty post at every particular time. They should supervise the supervisors, oversee the functioning of each officer, and render a performance index at the end of every day. The buck stops on her desk,” Adeniran stated.
Prosecution and Accountability
There is a consensus among civil society groups that not only should the fraudulent civil servants be prosecuted, but also those who facilitated such practices. Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, emphasized the need for accountability at all levels.
“What is going to happen to the person that allowed it to happen? That is what the government should be asking. Extend it to those who benefited initially from the funds. If it is the Head of Service, the person should be dismissed. If the person is no longer in service, then appropriate actions must be taken,” Onwubiko said.
Systemic Corruption
The issue of ghost workers is not new in Nigeria. Over the years, numerous audits have uncovered thousands of non-existent workers on the government payroll. In June 2022, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms announced that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) had identified and removed approximately 70,000 ghost workers, saving the government at least N220 billion.
Similarly, in July 2020, the Ministry of Finance identified over 50,000 ghost workers on the payroll of various federal ministries, departments, and agencies. In 2018, the Federal Government found ghost workers among the beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme, a social investment program aimed at employing young Nigerians.
The Japa Syndrome
The “Japa syndrome,” a term used to describe the mass exodus of young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad, has exacerbated the problem of ghost workers. Olusegun Elemo, Executive Director of Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative, highlighted that this phenomenon is not limited to the federal level but affects various states and agencies.
“It is not particular to the Federal Government. I think there are multiple cases across different states of the federation and multiple agencies of government whether at the federal or state level. We cannot shy away from the Japa syndrome. It is affecting everybody and there are many young people in civil service as well,” Elemo remarked.
Comprehensive Reforms Needed
To address these issues, Elemo proposed that both federal and state governments, along with local authorities, should undertake thorough payroll audits and implement performance assessments to evaluate the contributions of government personnel. This, he argued, would enhance productivity and accountability within the civil service.
“What the government needs to do; not just the federal government now but even the state government and local government, they need to conduct a payroll audit. Also, they can do some sort of performance assessment of the personnel that each of these charters of governments have to see who and who has been contributing to the pool of performance,” Elemo suggested.
The Path Forward
The recent scandal involving the UK-based taxi driver has laid bare the extent of corruption within Nigeria’s civil service. It has also highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to restore accountability and effectiveness. As President Tinubu’s administration takes steps to address this issue, the eyes of the nation will be watching closely to see if these efforts will lead to meaningful change.
Peter Jane is Atlantic Post Senior National Correspondent
