Ex-civil servant still gets salary 2 years after leaving Nigeria for UK

A Nigerian man based in the United Kingdom (UK) reportedly still receives his salary as a civil servant back home in Nigeria.

BBC News disclosed this on Sunday, adding that the man, who currently works as a taxi driver in the UK, receives a monthly salary worth N150,000 in Nigeria.

“If you leave your job, it would seem logical that your salary would stop being paid, but not so for a number of former Nigerian civil servants,” BBC said.

“They have managed to be employed elsewhere – sometimes in another country entirely – and yet continue to receive a wage from their former workplace.”

BBC reported that the man, whose identity was not disclosed, has not yet resigned from his position as a junior official at a government agency in Nigeria.

However, the news media reports that the UK-based taxi driver still gets paid each month despite leaving Nigeria in 2022.

“He now works as a taxi driver in the UK but told the BBC that he was not worried about losing the salary as he sees President Bola Tinubu’s comments as an empty threat,” the report read. “Mr Adams (not his real name) added that the loss of his monthly Nigerian salary of 150,000 naira ($100; £80) would not be a great hardship as he earns a lot more driving a taxi.

“When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried.”

When asked why he did not make it clear to the civil service that he had left, the 36-year-old said he had to leave his options open.

“To be honest, I didn’t resign because I wanted to leave that door open in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years,” he explained.

Tinubu recently directed that all civil servants who are drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.

The President also directed that the supervisors and department heads of the culprits must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch.

Tinubu gave the directive last Saturday at the award night organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week.

Represented by Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the President expressed dismay over the attitude of the ghost workers.

“I was particularly struck by the revelations shared by the Head of the Civil Service, regarding employees who had relocated abroad while drawing salaries without formally resigning,” Tinubu said.

“It is heartening to hear that measures have been taken to address this issue, but we must ensure those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made.

“The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected.”