There was widespread condemnation on Sunday following revelations that a United Kingdom-based taxi driver continued to draw a salary from the Nigerian government despite relocating abroad in 2022.
Civil society organizations, speaking to The PUNCH, expressed outrage, viewing the situation as symptomatic of deep-seated corruption within the Nigerian civil service. President Bola Tinubu recently ordered a crackdown on such cases, insisting that those found culpable must repay any funds obtained fraudulently.
According to a report by the BBC, the individual, identified as Sabitu Adams (pseudonym), acknowledged receiving N150,000 monthly from his Nigerian government job, despite working as a taxi driver in the UK. Adams justified his actions, citing a desire to keep his options open for a potential return to his previous position in Nigeria.
Civil society leaders, including Auwal Musa of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, highlighted systemic issues and called for stringent measures to restore accountability. They emphasized the need for prosecution of those involved in unauthorized salary payments, urging the government to take decisive action against corruption within the civil service.
Debo Adeniran from the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership criticized the leadership within the civil service for failing in their oversight responsibilities. He called for comprehensive audits and accountability measures for all involved parties, from department heads to senior officials.
Emmanuel Onwubiko of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria underscored the importance of consequences for those responsible, suggesting dismissals and appropriate actions against officials who facilitated such malpractices.
Okechukwu Nwagunma from the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre termed the practice unacceptable and called for stricter controls over public service payroll systems to prevent further abuses.
Biodun Sowunmi from the Think Tank Group pointed to systemic breakdowns and urged the government to strengthen measures against exploitation of public resources.
The issue of ghost workers in the federal civil service has been a persistent challenge, with previous efforts to address it yielding mixed results. Various audits have been conducted, uncovering tens of thousands of ghost workers and saving significant amounts of public funds.
In conclusion, the outcry over the UK-based taxi driver’s case underscores ongoing concerns about corruption and inefficiencies within Nigeria’s civil service, prompting renewed calls for comprehensive reforms and stringent enforcement of accountability measures.
