By Bello Wakili
President Bola Tinubu has approved a comprehensive forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, as well as Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies and other public institutions.
The President directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to oversee and coordinate the exercise.
The directive follows a resolution of the Federal Executive Council on August 19, 2026, arising from findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on fake government agencies, ghost workers and other control failures.
The audit is expected to determine the extent of weaknesses in government systems and how they may have been exploited to defraud the public.
It will examine payroll, personnel, pension and financial management platforms, including reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud.
The exercise will also review access, identity, biometric and bank-account controls, as well as the links between IPPIS and other government platforms, including GIFMIS, Remita, the Treasury Single Account, TSA, and Sub-TSA.
The second component will cover Federal Government agencies, departments, commissions, councils, parastatals and other government bodies.
It will establish a definitive inventory of such entities, verify their legal status and examine how they gain official recognition, budgetary consideration and access to government facilities and systems.
President Tinubu directed that the exercise be conducted with the highest standards of independence, professionalism and forensic integrity.
The audit team will have access to relevant government records and systems and collaborate with the ICPC to ensure that the exercise complements ongoing investigations, prosecutions and recovery efforts.
President Tinubu says the exercise is not only aimed at identifying cases of fraud but also at strengthening government systems, closing loopholes, improving data verification and ensuring that only legitimate entities and eligible personnel have access to public resources.
The exercise underscores the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, fiscal governance and institutional integrity across the Federal Government.
Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
