FG removes 1,618 civil servants with fake employment from IPPIS

The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has announced the deletion of 1,618 officers found to possess illegal and counterfeit employment letters from the Integration Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) over the past year.

Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday during a media parley held as part of the activities marking the 2024 Civil Service Week.

She highlighted that thorough physical verifications by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) had reduced the previously inflated civil service workforce from over 100,000 to a verified count of 69,308 currently on the payroll.

Addressing the issue of corruption within the public service, Yemi-Esan emphasised collaborative efforts with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to eradicate malpractice.

She underscored the implementation of welfare initiatives, such as low-interest housing schemes aimed at reducing incentives for corrupt activities among civil servants.

She stated: “We work closely with ICPC and EFCC to curb corruption. Even when we have not been able to verify allegations of corrupt practices in the service.

“We endeavor to divert attention of civil servants from engaging in corrupt practices by providing welfare packages like housing schemes with a single-digit interest rate.

“These welfare packages have helped to reduce temptation for civil servants to engage in corruption.”

Yemi-Esan also disclosed the successful deployment of a whistleblower scheme, encouraging individuals to report corruption anonymously through online platforms or directly to the OHCSF.

She highlighted the ongoing digital transformation across ministries, emphasising a mandate for all MDAs to achieve full migration to digital processes by the end of 2025.

Acknowledging progress in the process she lamented resistance from certain MDAs and the public in embracing the reforms.

She added that the service has streamlined its operations to eliminate reliance on hard copy correspondence to exclusively manage official communications through digital channels.

Yemi-Esan maintained that the Tinubu-led administration was committed to modernizing and ensuring transparency within Nigeria’s civil service, marking a pivotal step towards a more efficient and accountable public sector.