The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, disclosed that the anti-graft agency has discovered 37,395 ghost workers on the payroll of the Federal Civil Service.
The EFCC boss stated this during a sensitization program on the ongoing anti-corruption war. The program was organized by the agency to for the of staff of works and housing ministries.
Magu noted that ghost workers, as well as procurement frauds in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), was a source of major concern to the EFCC.
“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 Federal Civil Service payrolls.”
The EFCC boss also stated that the anti-graft agency has established a Procurement Fraud Unit to investigate the petitions of violation of the Public Procurement Laws by civil servants.
“In regard to procurement fraud, 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 investigation 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 to 10 years, and in addition, may face dismissal from service.”
“The commission is determined more than ever before to rid all MDAs of all forms of fraudulent activities.”
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