A new discovery has been made by a male Nigerian civil servant who moved to the United Kingdom in 2022.
The man disclosed that even if he doesn’t show up for work in Nigeria, he still gets paid each month.
Due to the sensitivity of the situation, the 36-year-old UK taxi driver, who will only be addressed as Daniel told the BBC that he is paid N150,000 a month from his Nigerian employer, all because of an understanding between him and his supervisor.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has threatened to take action against its nationals who had moved overseas and were still paid.
President Bola Tinubu issued an order on Saturday, June 22, 2024, expressing dismay at the information revealed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation about workers who had moved overseas and continued to receive their salaries without legally resigning. The order is that the “culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected.”
Tinubu stated ; “Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch,” adding that his administration would ensure “those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made.”
As long as they receive their compensation without joining the country’s civil service, non-government employees will continue to receive free money.
In certain other instances, individuals who have left their positions with the government or moved abroad continue to get their payment.
Daniel, a junior officer in a government agency, was unconcerned by the President’s order, pointing out that his pay from the government is less than what he now makes in the UK.
In his words; “When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried.”
Daniel responded that he anticipated he would likely return after a few years overseas when questioned why he had refused to quit from his work after moving abroad.
You may also like to read this ;
• New Nigeria National Anthem: A Powerful Call to Unity and Progress.
•The Nigerian Dream Job: How to Secure a Well-Paying Position After Graduating”
He continued; “To be honest, I didn’t resign because I wanted to leave that door open in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years,” he retorted.
Daniel is one of many Nigerians who have moved overseas but continue to get their monthly salary from the Federal Government’s coffers. Dr. Dasuki Arabi, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, revealed in June 2022 that over 70,000 ghost workers had been identified and removed from the public service system thanks to the Federal Government’s support of the Integration Personnel and Payroll Information System.
Arabi continued by saying that since the Treasury Single Account was completely implemented by the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the government had saved at least N220 billion and N10 trillion.
Daniel also stated, “I had a good understanding with my boss and he just let me leave,” demonstrating how much he has been enjoying the “free money” he hasn’t been working for for the previous two years.
Ghost workers typically negotiate out agreements with their managers to hide their activities, after which they split the pay.
