Tinubu Orders Sweeping Forensic Audit of Federal Agencies, Payroll System Over Ghost Worker Scandal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive forensic audit of key Federal Government systems and agencies in a fresh move to tackle corruption, eliminate ghost workers and strengthen accountability across the public sector.

The audit, which will be coordinated by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, is expected to scrutinise the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), government agencies, and internal administrative and financial control mechanisms.

The directive was disclosed on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the exercise followed concerns raised by recent findings of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding the existence of alleged fake government agencies, payroll fraud and other weaknesses in government systems.

According to Onanuga, the decision stems from a resolution reached by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on August 19, 2026, aimed at uncovering and addressing systemic lapses that may have enabled the diversion of public funds and abuse of government processes.

He explained that the forensic audit would seek to establish the scope of existing weaknesses within government structures and determine how such vulnerabilities may have been exploited over the years.

The review will be carried out in two major phases.

The first phase will focus on a detailed forensic examination of government payroll and financial management platforms, particularly the IPPIS and related personnel, pension and accounting systems.

Under this component, investigators will review allegations of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile discrepancies identified by the ICPC and trace how fictitious or ineligible individuals may have gained access to government payroll systems.

The audit will also examine identity verification processes, biometric controls, access management procedures and bank account validation mechanisms used within the payroll system.

In addition, auditors will assess the interaction between IPPIS and other critical government platforms, including the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), Remita, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Sub-TSA structures.

The objective, according to the Presidency, is to determine whether fraudulent activities were enabled by technical flaws, weak internal processes, poor segregation of duties or deliberate manipulation of the systems.

The second phase of the exercise will extend beyond payroll systems to cover all federal ministries, departments and agencies, including commissions, councils, parastatals and other government institutions.

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The audit team will establish a verified inventory of all federal entities and examine the legal foundations upon which they operate.

It will also investigate how organisations obtain official recognition, gain access to government funding, secure office accommodation, enjoy official correspondence privileges and connect to government systems.

Beyond identifying fraudulent entities, the review will assess governance structures, procurement procedures, internal audit mechanisms and oversight frameworks across government institutions.

The Presidency said the aim is to close loopholes that may have allowed unauthorised organisations or individuals to gain access to public resources.

President Tinubu directed that the exercise be conducted with the highest standards of independence, professionalism and forensic integrity.

He also authorised the audit team to access relevant government records and systems while working closely with the ICPC to ensure the exercise complements ongoing investigations, prosecutions and asset recovery efforts.

According to the President, the initiative is not only intended to expose individual cases of fraud but also to strengthen the overall architecture of governance by improving data verification processes, enhancing transparency and reinforcing accountability across public institutions.

Tinubu said the ultimate goal is to ensure that only properly constituted government entities and legitimately employed personnel have access to government resources.

The Presidency described the audit as another step in the administration’s broader efforts to promote fiscal discipline, institutional integrity and effective management of public funds.