Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and Federal Government agencies.
The audit will cover government administration, personnel, payroll, pension and financial-management systems, as well as internal controls across federal institutions.
The statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja said that President Tinubu directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, to oversee and coordinate the exercise.
The directive followed the resolution of the Federal Executive Council on August 19 on findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC findings involved alleged fake agencies, ghost workers and other weaknesses in government control systems.
The audit will establish the nature and extent of weaknesses in government systems and determine how such lapses may have been exploited.
The first component will focus on IPPIS and related payroll, personnel, pension and financial-management platforms.
It will examine reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile figures identified by the ICPC and trace how fictitious or ineligible persons were enrolled.
The review will also assess access, identity, biometric and bank-account controls associated with government personnel and payroll systems as well as examine interfaces between IPPIS and other platforms, including GIFMIS, Remita, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Sub-TSA.
According to the statement, the exercise will determine whether identified vulnerabilities resulted from system defects, process failures, inadequate segregation of duties or deliberate circumvention, while the second component will cover all Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, councils, parastatals and other government bodies.
It will establish a definitive inventory of such entities and verify their legal basis and official status.
The audit will also examine how government entities obtain official recognition, budgetary consideration, correspondence privileges, office facilities and access to government systems.
It will assess governance, procurement, internal audit and oversight mechanisms to identify and close systemic weaknesses.
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 systems and records and collaborate with the ICPC to complement ongoing investigations, prosecutions and recoveries.
The President said that the exercise should go beyond individual cases of fraud or administrative failure to strengthen the architecture of government.
It is also expected to close systemic loopholes, improve data verification and reconciliation, reinforce accountability and ensure only legitimate entities and eligible personnel access government resources.
The exercise underscores Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, fiscal governance and institutional integrity across the Federal Government.
GIK/APA