ICPC Exposes Ghost Payroll Scheme Involving 14 Family Members

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered alleged widespread manipulation of government payrolls, including a case involving an official who reportedly enrolled 14 members of his family as government workers.

ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), disclosed this in Abuja while speaking at the 2026 Economic Confidential Lecture and National Spokespersons Award organised by Image Merchants Promotions Limited.

Aliyu said the commission’s investigation also uncovered another individual who allegedly enrolled his wife, children and other relatives on the government payroll and collected 13 different salaries.

He said about 900 suspected ghost workers had been identified, with their names published to enable them to prove that they were genuine employees.

According to the ICPC chairman, the investigation lasted about a year and revealed different methods used to manipulate payroll systems.

In some cases, the names and email addresses of fictitious workers appeared on official payroll records, while the bank accounts receiving their salaries belonged to other people.

Aliyu warned that ghost-worker fraud could lead to losses beyond monthly salaries, as fictitious employees could also generate fraudulent pension, housing, mortgage and health insurance benefits.
He further disclosed that the ICPC recovered more than N24 billion in ghost workers’ pension funds in 2024.

The chairman said the commission was placing greater emphasis on preventing corruption, protecting public resources and ensuring that government projects delivered value to Nigerians, rather than relying only on criminal prosecution.

Aliyu also advocated increased use of data and technology in the fight against corruption, saying accurate information and effective communication were crucial to improving accountability and public confidence in government institutions.

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