FG discovers 43,000 ghost workers, saves N50bn
The Head of the Continuous Audit team of the Federal Government, Mr Mohammed Dikwa, on Tuesday said N50 billion was saved so far through the audit of security agencies payroll.
Dikwa said this in Abuja at a meeting between the Continuous Audit team, Minister of Finance and Heads of Para-Military agencies to discuss ways to clean up the payroll of the security agencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Mohammadu Buhari had set up the Continuous Audit team to look into the payroll of all Federal Government's Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The team had already embarked on the audit of the Military payroll and enrolling them on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
"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 said that the officers from the account departments of all the para-militray agencies were currently undergoing training on IPPIS and the Government Management Information System (GIFMIS)
He said the plan was to have all the agencies enrolled on the IPPIS and GIFMIS at the end of the month once the training was completed.
Similarly, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said the audit of the para-military payroll would focus mainly on non-regular allowances of security officers.
She said initial investigations had revealed that these allowances had created avenues for unscrupulous persons within the system to steal money.
"The president has given the directive that all ministries and agencies of the Federal Government be enrolled on the IPPIS latest December, 2016.
"This meeting is to discuss the modalities of how this will be achieved; specifically, there are number of allowances described as the non-regular allowances.
"We have to make sure that these non-regular allowances are paid directly to those who are serving. And the best way to do that is through an automated system.
"This system will be linked to BVN so the money is going to specific individuals rather than being diverted elsewhere.
"Whoever is paid irregular allowances for hazard, risk or other extraneous factors, it is important that the money gets to them.
"The people taking the risk should be paid, otherwise the service they are expected to render will be in jeopardy,'' she said.
Adeosun said that one of the advantages of the IPPIS was that delays in payment of salaries and allowances of security personnel would be a thing of the past.
She reassured members that the details gathered through the IPPIS would be kept safe so that identities of security operatives would not be compromised.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr Bassey Akpanyung, pledged the ministry's support to ensure that all the security agencies under its control complied for the success of the process.
NAN reports that heads of Customs, Immigration, Prisons, Police, Fire Service and Civil Defence were present at the meeting.
Dr. Sikiru Eniola:Thanks for your response. I am aware of your deeeeep ASUU credentials - but that is okay...:-)I intend to respond below as comprehensively as I can, because having just finished serving as VC of a Federal University, - not a state one like yours at EKSU - withmy own concern about government impunity, some will say a near-victim. Yet, I believe that it is important for our University system to be more proactive and introspectivethan it has been so far, or would like to be, and not confuse autonomy with independence.My responses to you below:On Wed, Apr 20, 2016 at 9:56 AM, DR SIKIRU ENIOLA <drsikirueniola@gmail.com> wrote:Sir, the Universities did not resist any of the policies.
I have provided below for public perusal copies of exchanges of letters between the Committee of Vice-Chancellors (CVC) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF),among ourselves and with the IPPIS team in the AGF's office. The resistance is more nuanced than you or I have stated earlier - not just about autonomy, but about genuineconcern about the exceptional nature of universities, many of which I actually share and so expressed - but I strongly believe that there are both "ghost workers" in many of ouruniversities, as well as workers who are earning in more than one pay station, either within the university itself or without. So we should not let the excellent get in place of thegood, and so we should get on with getting onto the IPPIS system. (Most or all federal universities are already on both GIFMS and TSA. Despite initial resistance, I find them tobe extremely helpful to the Chief Executives in the financial management of their institutions. I certainly savedme from having to deal with forty-three bank accounts in eleven banks.)
The Autonomy that the Universities claimed was that it is the Governing Council that must write and communicate with its employers. The University will not accept nor respond to any letter coming from any MDAs directly to the University staff. The Visitor to the University or any MDA can write to the University to do A or B. The communication to staff must bear the University letterhead emanating from the office of the VC or the Registrar.I accept this notion of Autonomy....In every situation, it is the Governing Council that investigates, tries and sanctions all acts of indiscipline and misconduct. Once a system like this is in place, it is not neat for any reason to jump over the hierarchy so instituted by the Visitor himself and according to the Act establishing the University.
Aha....but you yourself have just been involved in the "Investigation",( trial and possible sanction) of seven universities and three polytechnics set up by the Minister of EducationAdamu Adamu:QUOTEDaily TrustNigeria: Abuja Varsity, Auchi Poly, Eight Others Face Probe Over Mismanagement, Sex Scandals
By Misbahu BashirThe Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu on Thursday in Abuja inaugurated committees to investigate the management of 10 universities and polytechnics over allegations ranging from abuse of due process, financial mismanagement to sexual harassment.
The minister said government had received numerous complaints against the governing councils and management of some institutions and resolved to set fact-finding committees to determine the veracity of the claims and give appropriate recommendations.
The institutions included the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina state, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, Federal University Kashere, Gombe state, University of Abuja, FCT and University of Nsukka, Enugu state. Others are Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo state, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos state and University of Calabar, Cross River state.
- materials deleted -
The committee to probe Oko Polytechnic had Prof. Sech Accra Jaja of the University of Port-Harcourt as chairman, Prof. A. L Tanko, Prof. Madueke O. Iwe, Dr. Kareem Olawale, Abubakar Mohd and Mulikat Jimoh (secretary) as members. Professor Idowu Awopetu of OAU was the chairman for the committee to probe Yaba College while Oshiba P. O (secretary), Prof. Ngozi Nnmani, Dr. Sikiru Eniola, Ngubane Gladys and Lawal Hafis will serve as members. The committee for University of Calabar had Dr. Salihu Abubakar of ABU, Zaria as chairman, Haruna A.B (secretary), Prof. Sani Abba, Prof. Greg Wajiga, Uba Uche and B. C Odum as membersUNQUOTESo, pray, what did you and colleagues find out about Yaba College in five days that the Governing Board could not find out?Did you not talk DIRECTLY to staff in these universities and colleges?With all sense of responsibility, we in the Universities don't engage in any frivolous act that is suggestive of insurbodination or arrogance. A channel of communication exists and this should be followed.
Haba! We university staff - particularly academic - are the highest concentration of neurotic human beings in the world, all-smart and full of "insurbodination or arrogance",that can only be managed by a strong VC who understands both how to curb and to stroke egos. The "frivolous acts" of university staff all over the world can be legendary,even while they conduct world-class research! :-)I remembered that when such a letter came requesting for biometric information, it was just a piece of paper without any identity. I wonder which kind of a consulting Agency should draft that careless circular. Our immediate response was to discountenance such an anonymous letter.
I don't understand how anybody expects you to respond to an "anonymous letter."Eventually, the letter was rerouted through our employers and all of these have since become history. As at today, a staff Audit in EKSU has since been done.
And what did the "staff Audit in EKSU" reveal? I did a sabbatical at EKSU way back in 2002 while Prof. Oyebode was VCand one "Dr. Tope Aluko" was still reigning supreme there - don't get me started! :-)That is the Autonomy. If we risk any communication with any outside body even any MDA, we bear the consequences. This is no pride or arrogance. It is a standing order of our employers.
Again, we should not confuse Autonomy with Independence. The Power of the Purse - or lack of it - is what ultimately determines the balancebetween the two.
THOUGH I WALK SLOWLY, I DONT WALK BACKWARDS
But if you walk too slowly, and others are walking faster than yourself, then Physics states that relatively you are "walking backwards." Think about it.And there you have it.Bolaji AlukoLetter from AGF to CVC enforcing TSA on UniversitiesJanuary 2014 Letter of CVC to IPPIS Team of the AGFFebruary 2014 Letter of CVC to Vice-Chancellors Updating us on IPPIS statusOn Apr 20, 2016 2:07 AM, "Mobolaji Aluko alukome@gmail.com [Ekitipanupo]" <Ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com> wrote:My People:
With respect to "ghost workers", one is beginning to feel that the real workers in our civil service(s) - federal, state and local - are these "ghosts", while the flesh-and-blood workers are the fake ones.....For when you do a search like:You find:Nigeria cuts 23,000 'ghost workers' from government payroll ...
Feb 29, 2016 - Nigeria has removed 23,846 employees from the government payroll, after an official audit revealed they don't exist. Cutting out these "ghost workers" will reduce the government's monthly wage bill by 2.3 billion naira ($11.5 million),Nigeria's finance ministry said in a ...FG Uncovers 60,000 Ghost Workers | Nigerian News from ...
leadership.ng/news/387811/fg-uncovers-60000-ghost-workersOct 22, 2014 - The federal government has uncovered a total of 60,000 ghost workers in federal establishments across the country following the staff audit of ...Etc,
So how come these numbers never reduce? This is due to the lack of a comprehensive implementation of GIFMIS, BVN and IPPIS - which the PMB government is now insisting upon, sometimes to resistance from strange quarters:
(1) With GIFMIS (Government Integrated Financial Management Information System), records and changes in TOTAL personnel affairs - number and charges (in Naira) - can be monitored on a monthly basis by dilligent (and non-coopted) regulators.(2) With BVN (Bank Verification Number), the BANKS to which personnel get their monies across various agencies can be monitored. Multiple BVNs can be monitored and WEEDED out.(3) With IPPIS (Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System), the names and employment statistics can be warehoused, and periodically interrogated for patterns of duplication, duplicity, and other fraud.Certainly, it is not as if these systems have not existed, but by not implementing them together and comprehensively across MDAs, the "ghost worker" disease has continued. The Army has been one of the resistors of IPPIS, as well as the Universities, the latter citing "Autonomy" considerations. I do not agree.It is time to terminate the ghost worker disease in Nigeria.Bolaji Aluko___________________________________________________DAILY TRUSTEFCC detects 37,395 ghost workers in federal civil service, says Magu
By . | Publish Date: Apr 19 2016 5:22PM
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/efcc-detects-37-395-ghost-workers-in-federal-civil-service-says-magu/143155.html#6qWhKJHsb7lJhSQ4.99The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in Abuja on Tuesday that it had detected 37,395 ghost workers on the payroll of the federal civil service.
The Acting Chairman of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, announced the figure at an anti-corruption sensitisation programme.
Magu said that apart from the widespread procurement frauds in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the issue of ghost workers was a source of serious concern for the commission.
He said that current investigations by the EFCC had revealed that the Federal Government lost about N1 billion to ghost workers recently.
``The EFCC has uncovered 37,395 ghost workers in the federal civil service. And investigation is still going on.
``Our investigations have so far revealed that the Federal Government has lost close to N1 billion to these ghost workers.
"The figure will definitely increase as we unravel more ghost workers buried deep in the federal civil service payrolls,'' he said.
Magu also said that the commission had established a procurement fraud unit to handle the increasing number of petitions relating to violations of the public procurement laws.
He advised civil servants to avoid any acts in breach of public procurement, warning that violators risked terms of imprisonment and dismissal from service.
``In regard to procurement frauds, there has been a sharp rise in the number of petitions coming to the commission relating to violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
``That is what informed my setting up a procurement fraud unit which has since commenced investigations of procurement fraud cases with some of those cases already in courts.
``Let me warn that civil servants found guilty under the Public Procurement Act risk terms of imprisonment ranging from five years to 10 years and in addition may face dismissal from the service.
``The commission is determined, more than ever before, to rid all MDAs of all forms of fraudulent activities,'' Magu said.
The chairman also said that the commission intended to place suggestion boxes at designated places for people to drop petitions and reports of corrupt practices to assist it in the fight against corruption.
The Permanent Secretary (Works and Housing), Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, in his paper, said that as the drivers of government policies, MDAs should be in the forefront of compliance to public service laws and regulations.
``It is rather sad that over time, the laws, regulations and standard practice governing the operations of the public service are being neglected and often abused, in many cases with impunity.
``The MDAs are expected to be in the forefront of compliance to extant laws and regulations because they collectively constitute the engine room of the government.
``They are responsible for the implementation of government policies and programmes.
"Therefore, the success or failure of such policies and programmes are fully on the shoulders of public officers,'' he said.
Magaji said that the works and housing sectors had resolved to regularly organise interactive sessions to educate officers on the importance of compliance to extant laws, regulations and guidelines.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by the commission for workers in the works and housing sectors.
It featured paper presentations by staff of the EFCC on its legal and operational activities. (NAN)
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/efcc-detects-37-395-ghost-workers-in-federal-civil-service-says-magu/143155.html#6qWhKJHsb7lJhSQ4.99_______________________________________________________________________________________________
About N5 billion saved as 23,846 ghost workers are removed from government payroll
Feb 29, 2016The Federal Ministry of Finance says it saved the Federal Government N2.29 billion monthly since December 2015 which is about N5 billion by eliminating 23,846 ghost workers from its payroll.
This is contained in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Festus Akanbi, Special Adviser, Media, to the Minister of Finance.
The Ministry stated that the salary bill for February 2016 had reduced by N2.293 billion when compared to December 2015.
According to the ministry, the figure represents a percentage of the number of non-existing workers who had hitherto been receiving salary from various ministries, departments and agencies.
According to the statement, its findings are made possible due to ongoing Bank Verification Number (BVN) staff audit and enrollment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
It noted that the findings showed that some civil servants' salaries were not consistent with the names linked to the accounts into which their salaries were paid.
It said that some individuals in this category were either receiving salary payments from multiple sources, parastatals or they were non-existent workers.
It also stressed that the suspected cases of ghost workers were further being investigated in conjunction with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
"The Federal Government is also taking actions to pursue recovery of salary balances in bank accounts as well as any pension contributions in respect of the deleted workers.
"This involves active collaboration with the concerned banks and the National Pension Commission (Pencom).
"The Ministry noted that the Military Pension Board had revised the amount payable for its due pension contributions on a monthly basis by N575m, following its annual verification for military retirees.
"This reduced the number of pensioners by 19,203 as a result of deaths since the last verification in 2012.
"The Federal Government, in its efforts to reduce personnel cost, is determined to continue the verification programme on a regular periodic basis," it stated.
The statement reiterated the ministry's dedication to duty in managing government's personnel costs which represented over 40 per cent of total government expenditure.
The statement further stressed the ministry plans to undertake periodic checks and utilise Computer Assisted Audit Techniques under its new Continuous Audit Programme.
"This will ensure that all payments are accurate and valid. Requirements for new entrants joining the Federal Civil Service have also been enhanced to prevent the introduction of fictitious employees in future.
"The ongoing exercise, which is part of the cost-saving and anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, is key to funding the deficit in the 2016 budget.
"This is because savings made will ultimately reduce the amount to be borrowed,".The ministry said.
The statement also addressed the recent call by the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) that the panel members investigating the cases of indicted civil servants be drawn from both government and labour.
The ministry explained that the request could not be acceded to, as the investigations were of a criminal nature and would therefore be handled by the appropriate investigative agencies
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