The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has identified the Nigeria Police Force and five federal ministries and agencies as having the highest number of ghost workers uncovered during its payroll verification exercise.
ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu (SAN), disclosed the findings while speaking on the commission’s investigation into payroll fraud across federal government institutions.
The commission said it discovered suspected 908 ghost workers in at least 50 ministries, departments and agencies, recovering about N942 million allegedly paid as fraudulent salaries.
Aliyu said investigators uncovered one case involving a man who allegedly placed the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law on the payroll while also collecting the salaries of 12 workers.
Among the institutions identified, the Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected fake workers.
The commission said investigations into the payroll fraud, launched in 2024, are ongoing.