President Bola Tinubu has mandated that civil servants who have relocated abroad and continue to draw salaries from the Nigerian government must refund the money.
The directive also includes punishment for the supervisors and department heads of these employees for aiding in the fraud.
This announcement was made during the award night organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commemorate 2024 Civil Service Week.
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The event, which honored outstanding civil servants in core ministries, saw the President represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Expressing dismay over the issue, Tinubu revealed, “During my recent visit to South Africa, I was struck by the revelations from the Head of the Civil Service regarding employees who had relocated abroad while continuing to draw salaries without formally resigning.”
The President commended the measures taken to address this issue but stressed the need for accountability. “The culprits must refund the fraudulently collected money, and their supervisors must also face punishment,” he stated.
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Tinubu assured that the government would take appropriate measures to ensure compliance and recover the funds.
Acknowledging the challenges within the civil service sector, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to addressing these issues to enhance performance. “Our administration is dedicated to the welfare and development of all civil servants to ensure optimal performance for national growth,” he said.
He highlighted the support provided to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to implement policies and reforms aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.
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The event also featured the presentation of top prizes to winners, including a brand new 2023 JAC JS4 Luxury Model SUV, a two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, and a serviced plot of land.
Additionally, the Nigeria Customs Service donated six Toyota Camry cars in support of the 2024 Civil Service Week. Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, announced these prizes.