FEC Orders Forensic Probe Of Fake Agencies And Ghost Workers

The Federal Executive Council has approved a forensic review of government processes after findings around the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council raised wider questions about fake agencies, payroll controls and ghost workers.

The decision was announced after Wednesday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said the review would look at administrative, accounting and governance weaknesses that allowed suspicious entities to obtain official codes.

The review will include the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, known as IPPIS. Oyedele said the government wants to identify fake agencies and ghost employees, protect federal funds and make sure salaries go to legitimate civil servants.

Channels TV reported that Tinubu directed the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and other relevant agencies to work together on the review. Vanguard also reported that the Attorney-General’s office would collaborate with other agencies to remove fake agencies and personnel from the system.

The PFIPC issue has already been the subject of official scrutiny. In an earlier report here, NaijaTrend covered delays around the House of Representatives panel report on the same cluster of allegations.

Officials have not released a final list of the suspected fake agencies. Oyedele said the review was meant to close loopholes and prevent similar cases from recurring inside government.

Sources: Vanguard, Channels TV