By Erewunmi Peace

The Federal Government has initiated a comprehensive personnel audit across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as part of efforts to eliminate ghost workers and build a more efficient civil service structure.

The exercise, which is being coordinated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service, is aimed at creating a verified digital database of all civil servants. The database will capture critical information such as Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) of federal employees.

A circular signed by Dauda Abdulhamid, Director of Administration at the OAGF, instructed all MDAs to submit updated personnel data and scanned authentication documents by May 2, 2025. The audit committee includes representatives from the Budget Office, the Civil Service Commission, and private consultants.

According to the Head of Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, the audit aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes digital transformation and efficiency in government operations. She stated that the process will not only identify ghost workers but also help correct discrepancies in service records and assess skills gaps in areas such as ICT and data analytics.

This move comes amid growing concerns about civil servants who have relocated abroad under the “japa” trend but still draw salaries from the government payroll. Previous audits have uncovered thousands of ghost workers, leading to significant savings for the government.

The Federal Government has urged MDAs and employees to fully cooperate with the verification exercise to ensure transparency and accountability in the public sector.