ICPC Recovers N20bn in Ghost Workers’ Pension Deductions – Chairman

• The ICPC recovered over N20 billion in pension deductions from ghost workers’ salaries in 2024 and arrested individuals involved in the fraud
• ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu is advocating for legal reforms to make corruption less attractive, including repayment of stolen funds with interest

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered over N20 billion in pension deductions from the salaries of ghost workers in 2024.

ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a breakfast meeting with Nigerian Guild of Editors members. He also revealed that the commission had arrested individuals involved in fraudulently inserting names of cronies into the federal government’s payroll.

Aliyu explained that while pension deductions for legitimate workers are remitted to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), the same does not apply to ghost workers.

“Any deduction made on ghost workers cannot go to any Pension Fund Administrator. It will remain unclaimed, which is how we were able to track and recover N20 billion,” he stated.

He further revealed shocking discoveries, including a case where an individual added his wife, son, and in-law to the federal payroll, with the son being just 15 years old. “We arrested him,” Aliyu said.

Beyond pension fraud, the ICPC chairman also noted that the commission successfully blocked the diversion of approximately N50 billion by public officers in 2023.

Aliyu emphasized the need for legal reforms to make corruption less attractive. He suggested that corrupt individuals should be required to return stolen funds with interest and be barred from holding public office for up to a decade.

“We need to ensure that anyone found guilty of corruption does not benefit from it. In some jurisdictions, penalties include full repayment of stolen funds and interest,” he noted.

He also called on Nigerians to stop glorifying corrupt individuals, saying societal acceptance of corruption has contributed to the problem.

Aliyu reiterated ICPC’s commitment to fighting corruption, stating that the agency had implemented strategies to enhance enforcement and transparency. He urged the media to support the commission’s mandate by exposing corrupt practices and promoting accountability.

“We are doing our best to achieve our goal. We will not withhold information or compromise our enforcement duties,” he assured.

With a strengthened partnership with the media, Aliyu pledged to transform ICPC into one of the leading anti-graft agencies in Nigeria, ensuring a more transparent and accountable system.