Payroll Fraud: ICPC Uncovers 908 Fake Workers Across MDAs, Police Top List

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 fake workers across several federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), recovering about N942 million allegedly lost to fraudulent salary payments.

ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, disclosed the findings following an extensive investigation launched in 2024 after the commission detected irregularities in pension payments. The probe exposed a widespread payroll fraud scheme involving fictitious employees whose names had been illegally inserted into government payroll systems.

According to Aliyu, investigations revealed that some senior public officials allegedly enrolled relatives and close associates as government workers despite them not being employed by the affected institutions. Salaries meant for the fictitious workers were subsequently diverted for personal gain.

He cited one case in which a suspect allegedly placed the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law on the payroll while also collecting the salaries of 12 other fake employees.

The investigation covered at least 50 federal ministries, departments and agencies, with some institutions recording significantly higher numbers of fraudulent entries than others.

The Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected fake workers, with 570 names identified on its payroll. The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80 fake workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded 24 suspected fake workers, while the Ministry of Defence had 19. The Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment each had 17, the Federal Ministry of Health recorded 15, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had 12.

Aliyu also disclosed that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior were among the institutions where fake workers were uncovered. However, he did not reveal the exact number of affected names in those agencies, noting that investigations remain ongoing.

The ICPC said the operation forms part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability in public service and eliminate corruption within government payroll systems. The commission pledged to continue investigations and ensure that all individuals found culpable are prosecuted in accordance with the law, while measures are strengthened to prevent future payroll fraud across federal institutions.