ICPC recovers over ‘N20bn paid to ghost workers’ as pensions in 2024

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it recovered N20 billion paid to ghost workers as pensions in 2024.

Musa Aliyu, chairman of the commission, spoke on Wednesday at a media parley with editors in Abuja.

Aliyu said being proactive has enabled the anti-graft agency to stem corruption in the country.

“In 2024, we recovered over N20 billion ghost workers pensions, whereby we were able to track and recover this amount of money, and also we identified people inserting ghost workers into the system,” he said.

“We even discovered that somebody put his wife, his son, and his in-laws on the payroll.

“So, these are some of the challenges that we are trying to see that we tackle and don’t allow them to go on.”

The ICPC chairman also said the commission prevented the theft of N50 billion from a particular ministry.

“In 2023, there is a particular ministry where we restrained over N50 billion from being taken away because of our proactiveness,” he said.

Aliyu said he “had sleepless nights” battling corruption during his time as the attorney-general in Jigawa state between 2019 and 2023.

“I know how those who feel they can do and undo and use all avenues to ensure that they spread lies and confuse people in order to discredit what we were doing then, but through God’s grace, we reached our destination,” he said.

He said the ICPC avoids media trials because a suspect is innocent until proven guilty.

“We share verified information through reports, newsletters, press releases, our website, and social media. However, we ensure that informants and the integrity of investigations remain protected,” he said.

“We want our work to be judged by the performance standards in our strategic action plan (2024-2028).

“I urge the Nigerian media to work with us in raising public awareness and promoting ICPC’s programs. Our nation’s progress depends on it.

“All of us should join hands to tackle corruption in this country. Fighting corruption is not easy because when you fight corruption, corruption fights back.

“Those involved in corruption are united in their evil. They try to lie against us in order to discredit what we are doing.

“But as a nation, all well-meaning members of the public must join hands to tackle corruption.

“We don’t have an option. If we don’t tackle corruption, our children will have no future. If we don’t fight corruption, those involved will wreck the economy, and we will all suffer for it.

“We are partnering with credible civil society organisations to implement the corruption prevention programme for local governments to ensure proactive disclosure of information relevant to finances, procurement, and control of corruption.”

He said assets recovered from corrupt public officials are strictly subjected to the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The ICPC chairman added that he set up a panel comprising civil society organisations (CSOs), media, and government procurement experts to ensure a transparent public auction of assets.

Aliyu said there is a need to review Nigeria’s laws to make corruption less attractive, noting that in some countries those convicted of corruption are required to repay the full amount with interest and are barred from holding public office for up to 10 years.