BVN: FG eliminates 23,846 ghost workers, saves N2.3bn monthly

The Federal Government has eliminated 23, 846 ghost workers from its pay roll, thus saving about N2.293 billion monthly in what should have been paid out to non-existent workers or those who draw multiple salaries from government coffers.

The feat, according to the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Festus Akanbi, was achieved through the Bank Verification Numbers, BVN-based staff audit and enrolment to the  Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

He said in a statement that more investigations were on-going in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He said.“The Federal Government is also taking actions to pursue recovery of salary balances in bank accounts as well as any pension contributions in respect of the deleted workers. This involves active collaboration with the concerned banks and the National Pension Commission, PenCom.

“Due to the fact that personnel costs represent over 40 per cent of total government expenditure, the Federal Government will continue to strengthen its payroll controls. It plans to undertake periodic checks and to utilise computer Assisted audit techniques under its new continuous audit programme.

“This will ensure that all payments are accurate and valid. Requirements for new entrants joining the Federal Civil Service have also been enhanced to prevent the introduction of fictitious employees in future.

“The ongoing exercise, which is part of the cost-saving and anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, is key to funding the deficit in the 2016 budget, as savings made will ultimately reduce the amount to be borrowed.”

He explained that the Federal Government would not accede to the request of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, that its members be co-opted into the panel investigating the cases of indicted civil servants because the investigations were of a criminal nature and would, therefore, be handled by the  appropriate investigative agencies.