The Federal Government has set a February 17, 2025, deadline for civil servants to complete their identity verification on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System as part of efforts to eliminate ghost workers from the public service.
The directive, issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation warns that employees who fail to comply risk being removed from the payroll, among other sanctions.
The verification process requires civil servants to provide their Taxpayer Identification Number, IPPIS number, and salary account details.
This has led to a surge in applications for TIN as workers scramble to meet the deadline.
A memo from the OAGF, sighted by our correspondent, confirmed the final one-week extension of the verification exercise, emphasizing that non-compliance could lead to salary stoppage.
“It is hereby emphasized that all employees concerned are expected to conclude the update of their payroll information on or before 12 midnight of Monday, February 17, 2025. Please note that officers who fail to avail themselves of this last opportunity may suffer some consequences, which may include suspension from the payroll,” the memo stated.
The directive also instructs all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to ensure strict compliance and widespread dissemination of the circular.
This move is part of a broader effort by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to cleanse the federal payroll system of fraudulent payments. In 2024, the President ordered that civil servants who relocated abroad but continued to receive salaries must refund the money.
He also directed that supervisors and department heads who facilitated such fraud be held accountable.
The verification exercise is expected to help the government identify and remove such cases while improving transparency in salary payments.
