‘I’ve been receiving salary two years after leaving Fed civil service,’ says Nigerian who relocated to UK

Advertisement

\

‘I’ve been receiving salary two years after leaving Fed civil service,’ says Nigerian who relocated to UK

Despite now working as a taxi driver in the UK, Adams has not formally resigned from the Nigerian position. This individual is among the many “ghost workers,” a prevalent issue in the civil service

A person of Nigerian origin, who moved to the United Kingdom (UK), has admitted to receiving a salary for two years after relocating.

The individual, identified as Sabitu Adams (pseudonym), disclosed that he gets paid each month as a junior official at a government agency in Nigeria.

Despite now working as a taxi driver in the UK, Adams has not formally resigned from the Nigerian position. This individual is among the many “ghost workers,” a prevalent issue in the civil service.

Annually, the government conducts biometric verifications and releases figures indicating the number of discovered ghost workers and the amount of money saved. However, no one has ever been reported to be arrested or prosecuted in connection with this issue.

Recently, President Bola Tinubu instructed that all civil servants who continue to receive salaries from the government after moving abroad should repay the money.

Tinubu also mandated that the supervisors and department heads of the perpetrators be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud during their tenure.

Adams, whose name was supposedly altered in a BBC report to safeguard their identity, expressed nonchalance about the president’s directives, stating that he earn a better income as a taxi driver in the UK.

The 36-year-old remarked, “When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried.”

The taxi driver also noted that he did not resign “in case I choose to return to my job after a few years.”

Adams stated further that he has an agreement with his boss in Nigeria, who is a relative.