Japa: FG targets ghost workers in fresh payroll audit

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation , has begun a personnel audit aimed at identifying and removing ‘ghost workers’ from the federal civil service payroll.

This move comes amid growing concerns over the mass exodus of civil servants—popularly known as japa—many of whom reportedly continue to receive government salaries after relocating abroad.

The development was disclosed in a memo signed by the Director of Administration, OAGF, Dauda Abdulhamid.

The circular, addressed to all Directors of Finance, Audit, and Federal Pay Offices across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, announced the commencement of a Service-wide Nominal Roll Update and a comprehensive personnel audit.

The memo reads in part: “Following the Service-wide Nominal Roll Update for officers under the pool of the OAGF and in line with the Accountant-General’s commitment to establishing a standardised and reliable personnel record, the AGF has approved the conduct of a Personnel Audit Exercise across the Headquarters, Federal Pay Offices, and all MDAs under the pool of the OAGF.

To facilitate this process, all affected MDAs are required to complete the attached template accurately and in full. All desk officers must ensure compliance with the referenced circular before submitting the duly completed template by the deadline to avoid being classified as ghost workers.”

It added that completed templates, in Excel format alongside a scanned authentication sheet, should be submitted via email to the Office of the Director of Administration (director.administration@oagf.gov.ng) on or before May 2, 2025.

It will be recalled that in 2023, President Bola Tinubu ordered an audit of the federal civil service, following revelations of widespread payroll fraud tied to the japa wave. The President also directed that any civil servant who had relocated abroad while still drawing salaries from government coffers must refund the funds.

Furthermore, the President ordered that heads of departments and supervisors found complicit in enabling such fraudulent activities must face disciplinary actions.