The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered more than ₦20 billion stolen through ghost workers’ pension schemes in 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s pension sector despite regulatory efforts by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this during the “Editors’ Breakfast Meeting with ICPC Chairman,” a media engagement held in Abuja.
Dr. Aliyu revealed that the commission’s preventive investigations uncovered fraudulent insertion of fictitious workers into pension payrolls across several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). These ghost workers were used as a front to siphon public pension funds.
“Despite the measures PENCOM has put in place, corrupt individuals continue to exploit loopholes within the system,” Dr. Aliyu said. “Our investigations led to the recovery of over ₦20 billion in funds that were unlawfully diverted.”
While acknowledging PENCOM’s role in regulating the pension industry, the ICPC Chairman stressed that the fight against corruption requires a collective effort. He urged all Nigerians—including government agencies, the media, and civil society—to join forces in combating corruption.
“The anti-graft agencies cannot do this alone,” he said. “It is only through a united front that we can protect national resources and drive sustainable development.”
Dr. Aliyu also outlined ICPC’s ongoing preventive strategies, including proactive audits and collaboration with oversight bodies to identify and block corruption risks before they occur.
The recovery signals a significant win for the ICPC but also underscores the need for continued vigilance and stronger accountability mechanisms within Nigeria’s pension system.
Stay informed, stay ahead with The Ameh News
Discover more from Ameh News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
