Tinubu Orders Forensic Audit of FG Systems, Including IPPIS, Amid Ghost Worker Scandal

President Bola Tinubu has initiated a sweeping forensic audit of federal government systems, including the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). The directive, issued through a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, tasks the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, with overseeing the comprehensive review.

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will establish the nature and extent of weaknesses in Government’s control system, and determine how such weaknesses have been exploited.

The audit stems from findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding "fake agencies," ghost workers, and systemic control failures. It is designed to pinpoint the nature and extent of these weaknesses and how they have been exploited, particularly concerning payroll and personnel management.

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examine reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile the figures identified by the ICPC, trace how fictitious or ineligible persons were enrolled, and review access, identity, biometric and bank-account controls.

The exercise will comprise two key components. The first involves a deep dive into government systems like IPPIS, examining payroll, personnel, pension, and financial management platforms. It will scrutinize reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile figures with ICPC findings, and trace the enrollment of fictitious individuals. The interfaces with other government platforms, such as GIFMIS and Remita, will also be assessed to determine if fraud resulted from system defects or deliberate circumvention.

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whether fraud resulted from system defects, process failures, inadequate segregation of duties or deliberate circumvention.

The second component will focus on all Federal Government agencies, departments, and parastatals. This part of the audit aims to create a definitive inventory of these bodies, verify their legal standing, and assess how they obtain official recognition and resources. The goal is to close systemic loopholes that allow unauthorized access to public funds and resources, ensuring the government's control architecture is strengthened against fraud and mismanagement.

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establish a definitive inventory of such bodies and verify their legal basis.