Ghost workers: FG extends civil servants’ verification

The Federal Government has extended the deadline for workers’ verification from July 31 to August 15, 2024, The PUNCH has learnt.

Civil servants are to verify their identities on the portal of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System amidst the planned stoppage of salaries and sanctions for ghost workers.

Our correspondent gathered that civil servants had been in haste to generate their Taxpayers Identification Number.

Part of the requirement for verification is the TIN alongside the IPPIS number and salary account number.

Our correspondent sighted on Thursday an official notice on the extension of the verification exercise.

“This is to inform the Federal Government workers who receive monthly salary via treasury that the IPPIS verification portal has been extended to 15th August 2024.

“Therefore, all federal employees are expected to conclude update of their payroll information on or before 12 midnight of Thursday, August 15, 2024,” the notice read.

Confirming the development, a senior civil servant told our correspondent: “Yes, it is true. Initially, some civil servants, especially university workers, refused. I think this is why it was extended to August 15.”

President Bola Tinubu had directed that all civil servants drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad be made to refund the money.

The President also directed that the culprits’ supervisors and department heads be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud while they were in charge.

“During my recent visit to South Africa, I kept abreast of the week’s activities.

“I was particularly struck by the revelations shared by the Head of the Civil Service, regarding employees who had relocated abroad while drawing salaries without formally resigning.

“It is heartening to hear that measures have been taken to address this issue, but we must ensure those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made.

“The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected.

“Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch,” Tinubu said.

He reiterated that the government would take appropriate measures to ensure they were punished and the money refunded to the government treasury.