EMPLOYMENT FRAUD IN MDAs: CACOL BACKS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESOLVE TO INVESTIGATE AND CURB THE MENACE

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has thrown its weight behind Federal Government’s resolve to investigate employment fraud that is prevalent in some Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

In a press release issued by the organization’s Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo on behalf of Mr. Debo Adeniran, CACOL’s Chairman, he noted, “It would be recalled that the federal government, Monday, inaugurated a committee on enrolment of newly recruited civil servants on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), to checkmate employment irregularities perpetrated by officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs). Inaugurating the committee, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan bemoaned incidences of sharp practices, noting that a large number of fake appointment letters were being discovered in some Ministries, which if not properly addressed, would lead to the denial of employment to a great number of prospective and eligible law-abiding job seekers in the country.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference include:

i. identifying the challenges associated with the old process to guide the new process

ii. examining the new processes of enrolling newly recruited officers on the IPPIS platform

iii. identifying the benefits derivable from the new process including cost-saving, where possible

iv. initiating the process of enrolling new employees on the IPPIS platform guided by the new procedure

v. ensuring that the enrolment of new employees on IPPIS is based on the approved waivers from the OHCSF

vi. treating and capturing all backlogs of newly recruited officers based on the new procedure, subject to authentication of appointment letters, approved waivers, financial clearance and Federal Character Commission Compliance Certificate, where applicable.

vii. recommending appropriate sanctions on defaulting MDAs and individuals identified to have abused, breached or manipulated the process

viii. ensuring no further enrolment of newly recruited officers on the IPPIS platform is done without the approval of the committee

ix. identifying and removing all officers illegally enrolled on the IPPIS platform including savings made, where possible

x. Submitting monthly report on the number of staff captured or suspended on the IPPIS platform.

According to the CACOL’s boss, “This attitude of giving questionable employment to undeserving citizens of the country in different MDAs predates the Buhari’s Administration and it remains an ill-wind blowing nobody any good. We had expected all this rubbish to end with the last administration since this government is that of a change from all that is wrong with governance in this country before now. But it is regrettable that the situation is still the same till now. Employment in different MDAs in the country has become the highest bidder takes it all. It has degenerated to a situation where you have to buy your way into the federal civil service”.

“We have heard cases whereby job-seekers pay huge sums of money to secure employment in some MDAs. This calls for a serious concern for any government who is determined to fight impunity and corruption. The greatest danger of this nefarious act is not only that the children of the poor cannot afford this exorbitant ‘bazaar employment offer’ but the fact that merit is thrown overboard and the principle of Federal Character is never considered in the bogus recruitment, selection and placement process is why it calls for serious concern for all well meaning Nigerians”.

The CACOL Head adds, “We are particularly happy that the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, OHCSF is already collaborating with security agencies to investigate and bring to book those behind the nefarious and shameful practices. We hope the committee will carry out the assignment with all sense of responsibility and without fear or favour with a view to achieving the civil service that would be the pride of all. In our own view, it is imperative that the OHCSF should not take this issue with levity and proceed with its investigation with the aim of bringing to book all the people that have been characterized with this kind of illicit employment exercise. They should all be prosecuted in a competent court of law so as to serve as deterrent to others”.

Tola Oresanwo,

Director, Administration and Programmes, CACOL