 |
| Tinubu opens audit to reshape public service |
President Bola Tinubu has launched a wide audit of Nigeria’s federal civil service. He spoke on June 26, 2025, at the International Civil Service Conference in Abuja. He wants to check staff numbers, verify payroll, and fix skill mismatches.
He said the audit will cover every ministry, department, and agency. He gave a strict timeline for data gathering and review. The goal is to spot gaps, cut waste, and improve service delivery. Tinubu made it clear that government jobs must deliver value, not drain the system.
The president pointed out that ghost workers remain a major concern. He said bloated payrolls are slowing Nigeria’s economy. This audit will verify staff against approved records. Every agency must account for who they employ and what each person does.
Key Audit Measures:
1. Count staff against official workforce lists.
2. Identify redundant roles and misplaced workers.
3. Assess who has the skills their jobs need.
4. Verify payroll data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
5. Publish verified records to increase public trust.
6. Benchmark findings against global civil service practices.
The exercise ties to Tinubu’s 2023 promise to clean up the public sector. On August 5, 2023, he ordered a forensic audit of the Central Bank and the civil service payroll. He said payroll inflation must stop. "I can’t believe the numbers I’m seeing," he said at the time.
That year, Nigeria’s wage bill crossed ₦5.9 trillion. Experts blamed it on ghost workers, overlapping agencies, and lack of control. Tinubu’s reforms now seek to fix that.
Civil Service Reform Timeline:
August 2023: CBN audit and payroll probe announced.
February 2024: Full Oronsaye report implementation ordered.
June 2025: Nationwide civil service audit launched.
September 2025: Results expected.
The Oronsaye report, first published in 2012, listed 541 government parastatals. It said 102 should be merged or scrapped. The Buhari administration set up a panel but didn’t implement the report. Tinubu says now is the time to act.
Audit Goals:
Remove ghost workers.
Match staff with the right skills.
Make government lean and modern.
Build citizen trust through open data.
Cut spending on waste and duplication.
Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of Civil Service, praised the move. She said Tinubu is giving the civil service its most serious shakeup in 30 years. She spoke during the Civil Service Week thanksgiving service on June 22. She said the service has gotten support from donors to fund the audit and training.
According to her, the new Civil Service Strategy will include digital tracking, skill development, and performance monitoring. Staff will be re-trained based on what the audit reveals. Those not needed in current roles will be re-deployed.
What Experts Are Saying Prof. Tunji Olaopa, a former permanent secretary, welcomed the audit. He said past reforms failed because they lacked action. “This time, the president seems serious,” he said. He warned, however, that resistance from vested interests may slow things down.
Civil service unions have mixed views. Some back the audit but worry about job losses. They want clear retraining plans. They also ask for fairness and transparency.
An internal union memo, seen by reporters, said: “We agree that the service needs cleaning. But don’t throw people out without a plan.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned that mass sackings would trigger strikes. They say reform should focus on redeployment, not layoffs.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Head of Civil Service says no job cuts have been approved yet. The goal is to reposition—not punish—the workforce. “No one is losing their job at this point,” a senior official said.
What the Data Shows Nigeria’s civil service has over 720,000 workers, excluding security and teaching staff. But audits from 2016, 2018, and 2021 found 67,000 ghost entries. These names collected salaries monthly, some even pension.
Budget experts say a cleaner payroll can free up ₦450 billion yearly. That money can go into roads, schools, and hospitals.
Global Comparisons
Kenya trimmed its workforce by 11% after its 2022 audit.
Ghana shifted 18% of redundant workers into new training programs.
Rwanda used digital ID to cut fake names by 29%.
Nigeria plans to adopt elements of these models. A digital ID check and fingerprint validation will be part of the new audit process.
Technology at the Center The audit will use facial recognition, fingerprint scans, and cloud payroll tracking. Staff must re-confirm their employment using a national portal. This will cut forgery and help centralize the database.
New hires will be tied to national ID and BVN. Salaries will be based on job match, skill level, and work output.
The federal government will also partner with private firms for staff training. Online modules and role-based skills will be introduced in phases.
The government says this audit is not a one-time event. Annual reviews will follow to keep things clean. Agencies will be required to publish hiring and exit data yearly.
Civil Service Reform Task Force A new task force will oversee the process. Members will include the Budget Office, the Office of the Head of Service, Labour reps, and private sector experts. They will review audit results and make reform plans.
The public will be able to submit feedback through a reform portal. Suggestions, complaints, and praise will all be welcomed. Tinubu said he wants the public to help shape the service.
Voices from Inside Several civil servants have shared mixed views. A director at the Ministry of Power, who asked for anonymity, said some staff fear the unknown. “We hear about audits all the time, but this one feels serious.”
A young program analyst in the Ministry of Communications shared a different view. “Finally, we may get promoted based on what we do, not who we know,” she said.
IT staff in MDAs are also preparing for new roles. Some will help with database building and verification. Many see this as a chance to show their worth.
Citizen Feedback Early online comments reflect wide interest. Some Nigerians praised the president’s action. Others warned against window dressing. “We’ve seen audits before—show us results this time,” one post read.
On Twitter, hashtags like #CivilServiceAudit and #TinubuReforms trended for two days after the announcement.
NGOs like BudgIT and SERAP have offered to help with transparency tracking. They want audit reports to be shared openly and quickly. “Sunlight is the best tool against fraud,” said a SERAP rep.
Potential Risks There’s fear of backlash from entrenched interests. Ghost workers often have insiders protecting them. Some senior officials may fight the process quietly.
There’s also risk of politicization. If the audit targets only low-level staff and spares the powerful, it could backfire.
Funding is another concern. Experts say a nationwide digital audit will cost at least ₦25 billion. Donor groups may cover part, but full execution still depends on steady support.
Media Role The Nigerian media is expected to play a big part. Journalists will track progress, expose fraud, and explain changes to the public. Several media houses have launched special reform desks to cover the audit.
TV programs, radio town halls, and social media campaigns are planned. The Ministry of Information says public education is key. It’s not just about tracking numbers, but rebuilding trust.
Next Steps:
1. Audit teams deployed to all 36 states.
2. Digital revalidation begins July 2025.
3. Portal live updates begin August 2025.
4. Reform blueprints published September 2025.
5. Merging of overlapping agencies by January 2026.
6. Feedback channels launched with SMS shortcodes and WhatsApp.
7. Midterm audit report due March 2026.
Tinubu’s audit marks a bold step. Fixing Nigeria’s civil service won’t be easy. But if done well, it could save billions, boost service, and rebuild trust. Citizens will be watching closely. So will investors. The future of Nigeria’s government depends on getting it right. Success means more than cutting costs. It’s about building a public service that works.