🔥 Trending Nigeria Police Force Ghost Workers Scandal: What You Need to Know

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) ghost workers scandal refers to the discovery by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of a significant number of suspected "ghost workers" on the payrolls of various federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), with the NPF accounting for the largest share ¹²³.

Details of the Scandal

The ICPC, an anti-graft agency in Nigeria, announced on July 22, 2026, that it had uncovered a total of 908 suspected ghost workers across at least 50 federal MDAs ³⁶. Of this total, the Nigeria Police Force was found to have the highest number, with 570 suspected ghost workers on its payroll ¹²⁴⁵⁷⁸.

Key Findings and Figures

• Total Ghost Workers: 908 suspected ghost workers identified across federal MDAs ³⁶.
• Leading Institution: Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with 570 suspected ghost workers ¹²⁴⁵⁷⁸.
• Other Affected Agencies:
• National Water Resources Authority: 80 suspected fake employees ⁴⁵⁷.
• Federal Ministry of Works: 56 suspected fake employees ⁴⁵⁷.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 24 suspected fake employees ⁷.
• Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy: 23 suspected fake employees ⁷.
• Financial Recovery: The ICPC stated that N942 million had been recovered from this payroll fraud ¹⁶⁷.
• Scope of Investigation: The investigation covered at least 50 federal MDAs ³⁸.

Implications

The discovery of such a large number of ghost workers, particularly within a critical security agency like the Police Force, highlights ongoing issues of corruption and financial mismanagement within Nigeria's public service ⁹¹⁰. Ghost workers are individuals who appear on an organization's payroll but do not actually work there, leading to fraudulent salary payments and significant financial losses for the government. The ICPC's efforts to identify and recover funds from these fraudulent activities are part of a broader anti-corruption drive in the country.