The federal government had uncovered about 54,000 fraudulent payroll entries in its Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as a result of whistle-blowing.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) disclosed this at the National Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Security organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja.
IPPIS is a uniform payroll payment system designed for the civil service and managed by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
It is used for payment of salaries and wages directly to Government employee’s bank accounts with appropriate deductions and remittances of third-party payments such as; Federal Inland Revenue Service, State Boards of Internal Revenue, National Health Insurance Scheme, National Housing Fund, Pension Fund Administrator, Cooperative Societies, Trade Unions Dues, Association Dues and Bank Loans.
The dialogue session was convened to discuss the current security challenges and how corruption is fueling the problems in the country. And most importantly, how IPPIS can help to prevent corruption which has characterised the payroll system.
The National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) said corruption had hindered the government’s ability to offer a better life for its citizens and this has affected the country negatively.
He attributed the discovery to the expansion of the coverage of IPPIS against stiff opposition from some quarters.
IPPIS has been facing stiff opposition from the Academic Staff Union of University (ASSU) who had rejected IPPIS for the university lecturers.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) which was the organiser of the event called for the review of public procurement policies to reduce corrupt practices in the country.
The ICPC chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye said the commission’s research and findings showed that public sector corruption contributes either directly or indirectly to insecurity.
He, therefore, called on all hands to be on deck to tame public service corruption in Nigeria.