President Tinubu targets “Ghost Workers” in Nigerian civil service crackdown
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has initiated a crackdown on former civil servants who continue to receive salaries despite having relocated abroad or taken new jobs.
This move aims to recover fraudulently obtained funds and hold those complicit accountable.
Among those benefiting from this loophole is Sabitu Adams, a former junior official now working as a taxi driver in the UK.
Despite leaving Nigeria two years ago, Adams continues to receive a monthly salary of 150,000 naira ($100; £80).
He remains unconcerned about the potential loss of his salary, stating that his UK earnings far surpass his Nigerian income.
Adams chose not to resign to keep the option of returning to his government job open.
The phenomenon of young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad, known as “japa,” has seen over 3.6 million people leave the country in the past two years, driven by economic hardships and the depreciating naira.
President Tinubu has expressed concern over the revelations and emphasized the need for those who facilitated this fraud to be investigated and punished.
He called for the repayment of misappropriated funds and accountability for supervisors and department heads involved.
“Ghost-working” remains a significant issue in Nigeria, with many non-existent workers still drawing salaries despite previous crackdowns.
The president’s directive aims to address this pervasive problem, although specifics on enforcement and action remain unclear.
Critics argue that Tinubu’s administration is more focused on rhetoric than action, pointing to recent expenditures on new planes and an official residence for the Vice-President as examples of governmental excess.
Despite the president’s tough stance on ghost workers, concrete measures to tackle the issue have yet to be outlined.
Source : bbc.com
