A damning BBC report has exposed a long-standing issue in Nigeria’s civil service, where a UK-based Nigerian cab driver continues to receive salary from his former government job despite being absent from work since 2022.
The latest expose has shown how top officers continue undermining the government’s various reforms, particularly in weeding out ghost workers from its payroll over the years.
The 36-year-old disclosed that his ‘understanding’ boss is in the know of how he gets paid since he departed Nigeria in 2022.
This revelation has sparked outrage and highlighted the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the civil service
Background
The concept of JAPA, which means fleeing one’s nation in search of greener pastures, is not new in Nigeria.
However, the recent expose has brought to light the alarming trend of civil servants relocating abroad while still receiving salaries from the government.
This phenomenon has led to a brain drain in the country, with professionals leaving in droves to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
President Tinubu’s Response
In response to the BBC report, President Bola Tinubu has vowed to take action against those involved in this fraudulent practice.
He stated, “Culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected.”
The President also emphasized that supervisors and department heads who have allowed this practice to continue will be held accountable and punished for their role in abetting the fraud.
He also said his government would ensure “those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made.”
‘JAPA — Upside and downside of the syndrome
Experts have argued that JAPA has upsides and downsides for a country. On the upside, they claim that as people resign from their jobs to seek comfort in other countries, there will be jobs for those who are unemployed.
On the downside, however, they note that JAPA causes a brain drain in the country as professionals leave in droves to other countries they believe will appreciate their professionalism.
However, in the case of Nigeria, the reverse has been the case, as what the most populous African nation has witnessed in recent years is mostly the downside of the JAPA syndrome.
There have been reports of doctors and other civil servants who still draw salaries from the government’s account despite relocating to foreign countries where they are paid handsomely.
In December 2023, Channels reported that the government of Abia State uncovered JAPA doctors who are still receiving salaries.
Data and Statistics
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 5% in the third quarter of 2023. Experts contend that addressing the issue of ghost workers and brain drain could significantly reduce this rate, as many civil servants who have relocated abroad are still receiving salaries
‘Stringent measures’
While experts commend President Tinubu’s promise to punish offenders, they contend that to prevent a situation where employees who have relocated are still receiving salaries, the government must come up with stringent measures.
They argue that when a civil servant found wanton is decisively dealt with with the instruments of the law, others who want to tow the path will be forced to shelve the idea, knowing how one of them was punished for a similar offense.
The National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said those culpable should be punished as deterrence for others.
He queried, “What is going to happen to the person that allowed it to happen? That is what the government should be asking. Extend it to those who benefited initially from the funds. If it is the Head of Service, the person should be dismissed. If the person is no longer in service, then appropriate actions must be taken.”
Similarly, Biodun Sowunmi of the Think Tank Group equally urged the government to ensure those employing the country are brought to book. “We now have a situation whereby we have workers both in the state and federal civil service, but in reality, some of them are based abroad. Either they went for a quick job, or they relocated abroad without their salaries being discontinued. This is a mark of corruption within the system. The new payment system introduced by the Federal Government was meant to address this. What is happening now shows the weakness in the system. It has not been able to stop the milking of the resources of the country by those who have migrated.”
Solutions and Recommendations
To address this issue, experts recommend that the government implement a more robust payment system that tracks employees’ work status and location.
They also suggest conducting regular audits to identify and remove ghost workers from the payroll, introducing stricter penalties for those found guilty of fraudulently collecting salaries, and developing initiatives to retain professionals in the country, such as improved working conditions and competitive salaries.
