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Two years after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered and seized N24 billion allegedly meant for the payment of ghost workers’ pensions, no individual or organisation has come forward to claim ownership of the funds or challenge the seizure in court.

ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a lecture titled, “Anti-Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication,” organised by Economic Confidenti.

Aliyu said investigations by the commission had uncovered cases in which unpatriotic civil servants allegedly enrolled their children and other family members as ghost workers on government payrolls.

According to him, one individual was found to have enrolled 14 members of his family on the payroll and was allegedly collecting 13 salaries.

“Up till now, no single person has come out to claim the N24 billion or gone to court to claim ownership of the money,” Aliyu said.

He said the commission would continue to investigate payroll fraud and other financial irregularities in government institutions to protect public funds.
The ICPC chairman described corruption as one of the greatest challenges confronting Nigeria, stressing that the menace must be tackled with seriousness if the country is to achieve sustainable economic progress.

He called for stronger enforcement of anti-corruption laws, noting that the country continues to lose significant amounts of money through bribery and other corrupt practices.

Aliyu also expressed concern over the involvement of some public officials in economic crimes, despite their responsibility to serve as role models for younger Nigerians.
He said some officials allegedly use consultants as intermediaries to facilitate corrupt activities and conceal the movement of illicit funds.
Recalling a major case uncovered by the ICPC in 2012, Aliyu cited an alleged diversion of $65 million released for the construction of houses for public officers to address accommodation challenges.

He said instead of using the funds for the intended purpose, those involved allegedly diverted the money and abandoned the housing project.
The ICPC chairman warned that pervasive corruption could discourage both local and foreign investment, stressing that investors would be reluctant to commit their resources to an environment where corruption thrives.
He said the commission would henceforth place greater emphasis on strengthening weak government systems that create opportunities for fraud and undermine economic growth.
Aliyu also referred to the recent discovery of a fake government agency, saying such an organisation should have been detected earlier if the country’s institutional systems were sufficiently robust.

He further identified the insertion of unexecuted projects into government programmes as another consequence of weak systems, saying the practice deprives Nigerians of value for money.

According to him, contractors found to have been awarded such projects would be compelled to execute them once identified.
To build a stronger culture of integrity, Aliyu urged Nigerians to begin anti-corruption campaigns from the primary school level, saying children should be taught early about the dangers and consequences of corruption.
He said such efforts would help raise a generation that would reject corrupt practices and demand accountability from public officials.
“Nigeria can capture corruption and a solid foundation will come up for the country on integrity. The damaging effect of corruption is too much and must not be allowed to thrive,” he said.
Aliyu added that the ICPC would focus on addressing systemic weaknesses that facilitate corruption in areas including constituency projects and payroll management, while working to sanitise the public sector.

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Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making education the cornerstone of sustainable development, declaring that government will continue to invest in measures that guarantee a safe, secure and conducive learning environment capable of restoring the state’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence.

Governor Mutfwang made the declaration through the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Mrs. Kachollom Pyam Gang, while declaring open the 4th Man O’ War Nigeria National Camping Exercise in Jos.

The week-long programme, holding from August 9 to 15, 2026, at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Shere Hills, is themed “Strengthening Community-Based Safe School Framework for a Secure and Resilient Nigeria,” with the sub-theme “Building Safer Schools Through Partnership, Preparedness and Collective Responsibilities.”

Describing the initiative as timely and strategic, the governor disclosed that the Plateau State Government is set to train one thousand security personnel who will be deployed to school communities across the state to strengthen safety and enhance the protection of students, teachers and educational facilities.

He noted that the initiative forms part of the administration’s broader efforts to rebuild confidence in the education sector and create an atmosphere where learning can thrive without fear.

Governor Mutfwang stressed that quality education cannot flourish in an atmosphere of insecurity, adding that his administration remains determined to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that every child in Plateau State has access to safe and inclusive learning spaces.

He commended Man O’ War Nigeria and the Safe School Initiative for championing practical solutions aimed at addressing security challenges confronting schools across the country.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the Safe School Initiative Nigeria, Hajia Halima Ibrahim, said the camping exercise was designed to strengthen the resilience of host communities in protecting schools from security threats.

She described Man O’ War Nigeria as a critical implementation partner whose nationwide presence and grassroots structure have positioned it to drive the objectives of the Safe School Initiative across the federation.

In his remarks, the National Commander of Man O’ War Nigeria, Adedamola Gbenga, explained that the exercise is a national capacity-building programme intended to equip coordinators from all the 774 Local Government Areas of the country with the knowledge, skills and practical strategies required to support the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.

He expressed optimism that participants would return to their various communities better prepared to promote school safety, assuring parents and the public that the training would contribute significantly to creating more secure learning environments ahead of the new academic session.

Also speaking, the Plateau State Safe School Coordinator, Brigadier General G. Shipi (Rtd.), described the collaboration between government agencies and Man O’ War Nigeria as both timely and strategic.

He urged participants to effectively utilise the knowledge acquired during the training to strengthen community-based security structures and foster safer school environments across Nigeria.

The opening ceremony attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services, the Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council, academics, traditional rulers and other partners committed to advancing school safety and improving educational security nationwide.

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As preparations intensify for the forthcoming Osun State Governorship Election, the Nigeria Police Force has urged members of the public to promptly report emergencies, security concerns and other election-related incidents through designated contact lines.

The public can reach the police through the following numbers:

📞 DIG Election: 08139235585
📞 CP Election: 08134277587
📞 Control Room: 08108756818

Members of the public who wish to report cases of police misconduct can contact the Complaint Response Unit on:

📞 08057000001
📞 08057000002
📞 08057000003

The police urged residents to remain vigilant, peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that timely reporting of incidents would help security agencies respond effectively and maintain a safe environment before, during and after the election.

Your voice matters. Report promptly. Stay peaceful. Help keep Osun safe.

Major Candidates in Osun Governorship Election

The 2026 Osun State Governorship Election is shaping up as a closely contested race, with 14 candidates on the ballot. However, the contest has largely centred on three major candidates — Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam.

Ademola Adeleke — Accord Party

Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election for a second term as governor of Osun State.

Adeleke, who won the 2022 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now contesting under the Accord Party.

His campaign is anchored on his administration’s record in office, with the governor seeking to retain the state’s top political position for another four years.

Bola Oyebamiji — APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is represented by Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, a former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Oyebamiji emerged as the APC candidate and is regarded as one of the strongest challengers to Adeleke.

The APC is banking on its political structure and support base across the state to return the party to power in Osun.

Najeem Salaam — ADC

Najeem Salaam, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is another prominent contender in the election.

Salaam is a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and has considerable political experience in the state.

His candidacy has also attracted attention as the ADC seeks to strengthen its presence in Osun and across the country ahead of the wider political contests leading to the 2027 general elections.

The Three-Way Contest

With the election approaching, the race is increasingly being viewed as a three-way contest involving Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam, although other candidates are also participating.

The election will therefore test the strength of the incumbent governor’s political machinery, the APC’s efforts to reclaim Osun and the ADC’s growing influence in the state’s political landscape.

With voters across the state expected to decide who will govern Osun for the next four years, security, voter turnout, electoral integrity and the ability of the candidates to mobilise supporters peacefully are expected to be critical factors in determining the outcome.