President Bola Tinubu has ordered that all civil servants who have relocated abroad but continue to draw salaries from the government must refund the money they have fraudulently collected. The President also directed that their supervisors and department heads be held accountable for their role in the fraud.
Tinubu made the directive during a ceremony held to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. The event aimed to recognize outstanding civil servants in core ministries.
The President expressed concern over the discovery of ghost workers who have relocated abroad but continued to receive salaries without formally resigning. He praised efforts to address the issue but emphasized that those responsible must be held accountable and restitution made.
“We cannot tolerate such fraud and it is imperative that those who have benefited from this illegality are made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected,” Tinubu said. “Their supervisors and department heads must be punished as well for aiding the fraud,.”
The President acknowledged the challenges faced by the civil service sector and reiterated his commitment to addressing these issues to ensure optimal performance.
In his address, President Tinubu commended the efforts of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in implementing policies and reforms aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery. He assured civil servants that his administration is committed to their welfare and development.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of prizes to winners of a competition organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The top three winners received prizes including a luxury SUV, a semi-detached bungalow, and a serviced plot of land. Additionally, 40 workers received cash prizes of N500,000 each. The Nigeria Customs Service donated six Toyota Camry cars as prizes for runners-up in next year’s competition.
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