By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, on Monday , said the probe instituted by the Federal Government to identify civil servants who are still receiving salaries after relocating abroad had started yielding fruits.
Walson-Jack disclosed that those who relocated abroad in search of greener pastures abroad are no longer benefiting from the system by receiving salaries they don’t work for.
While justifying her claim that the probe has started yielding results, Walson-Jack revealed that some of the relocated (known as japa in Nigerian parlance) workers had rushed to resign while some returned to the country to report for work since the commencement of the probe.
The HoCSF also denied that the probe process had been suspended stressing that the probe is not just ongoing but also gaining momentum by the day.
Walson-Jack disclosed this at a programme held in Abuja to celebrate her 100 days in office. The development comes five months after President Tinubu ordered that all civil servants who are drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.
Tinubu also directed that the culprits’ supervisors and department heads be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud while they were in charge.
The President gave the directive at an award night organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week.
On Monday, Walson-Jack insisted that the probe was ongoing.
She said, “You are asking about civil servants who may have japa (relocated abroad). We know that the issue came up, and there were even some verifications done. Since then, some of them quickly came back while some honourably retired.
“So, right now, just to sustain the momentum, we are still scrutinising using the IPPIS payroll to know who is here and who is out. And I think that will be a continuous process to ensure that people are not eating their cake and having them by going outside the country and still receiving their salaries.
“So I dare say some progress has been made in this regard and we will keep on watching out to ensure that it is completely dealt with.”
Walson-Jack appreciated her staff for the tremendous support she had so far enjoyed and also applauded all the ‘Super Permanent Secretary’ for making her first 100 days in office seamless.
“The first 100 days in office is a significant milestone. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the achievements recorded, perform a thorough audit of progress, and identify the goals ahead,” she stated.
While praising Tinubu for finding her befitting for such an exalted position, the former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education also assured that her office was working hard with the Federal Civil Service Commission to curb the growing menace of job racketeering in the system.
“I know that it is the Federal Civil Service Commission that has the responsibility to recruit. But, of course, we are right there to support that responsibility. So, in terms of job racketeering, whatever we can do will be done to stop it because where you find someone obtained a job through fraudulent means and, of course, the person is already in the service, the civil service will have to work with the commission to ensure that the person is sanctioned,” she noted.
