The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has revealed that about 1,618 officers who were found to possess illegal and counterfeit employment letters from the Integration Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) over the past year have been deleted from the system.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this at a media parley, part of the activities marking the 2024 Civil Service Week.
Dr. Yemi-Esan noted that thorough physical verifications by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have reduced the previously inflated civil service workforce from over 100,000 to a verified count of 69,308 currently on the payroll.
On the issue of corruption within the public service, the HoS emphasised collaborative efforts with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to eradicate malpractice.
She underscored the implementation of welfare initiatives, such as low-interest housing schemes aimed at reducing incentives for corrupt activities among civil servants.
Her words:” We work closely with ICPC and EFCC to curb corruption. Even when we have not been able to verify allegations of corrupt practices in the service.
“We endeavor to divert attention of civil servants from engaging in corrupt practices by providing welfare packages like housing schemes with a single digit interest rate.
“These welfare packages has helped to reduce temptation for civil servants to engage in corruption.”
The Head of Service also noted the successful deployment of a whistleblower scheme, encouraging individuals to report corruption anonymously through online platforms or directly to the OHCSF.
Yemi-Esan further highlighted the ongoing digital transformation across ministries, emphasizing a mandate for all MDAs to achieve full migration to digital processes by the end of 2025.
Despite progress, she expressed concerns over resistance from certain MDAs and the general public in embracing these reforms.
The OHCSF, she added, has streamlined its operations to eliminate reliance on hard copy correspondence, now exclusively managing official communications through digital channels.
She maintained that the Tinubu-led administration is commitment to modernizing and ensuring transparency within Nigeria’s civil service, marking a pivotal step towards a more efficient and accountable public sector.