By Jemimah Wellington, JKNMedia Reporter
PRESIDENT BOLA Tinubu has issued a stern directive targeting civil servants who have relocated abroad but continue to draw salaries from the Nigerian government without formally resigning.
This announcement came during the award night organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF) as part of the 2024 Civil Service Week celebrations.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, President Tinubu expressed his dismay over the fraudulent activities.
He emphasized the necessity for those involved to refund the illegally obtained salaries.
Additionally, he mandated that supervisors and department heads who enabled such fraudulent activities be held accountable and face appropriate penalties.
“During my recent visit to South Africa, I was informed about employees who had moved abroad yet continued to receive salaries without officially resigning.
“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,” Tinubu instructed.
The president stressed that the Nigerian Civil Service cannot be a place where misconduct is tolerated, stressing the importance of maintaining integrity within the system and reiterated that the civil service is the backbone of government operations, crucial for the delivery of public services to citizens.
“Our administration acknowledges the challenges the civil service is facing. I want to assure you that we are committed to ensuring the welfare and development of all civil servants to deliver optimal performance for the growth of our nation,” Tinubu added. He highlighted his administration’s efforts to support the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in implementing policies and reforms aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.
During the event, Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, announced the winners of various awards and prizes.
The top three prizes included a brand new 2023 JAC JS4 Luxury Model SUV, a two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, and a serviced plot of land measuring 400 square meters.
Additionally, the Nigeria Customs Service committed to donating six Toyota Camry cars for future awards.
The event was also an occasion to reflect on the efforts made to improve the welfare of civil servants.
Yemi-Esan noted the N35,000 provisional wage award for all treasury-paid federal government workers and ongoing efforts to review the minimum wage.
She also highlighted collaborations with public and private sector stakeholders to enhance the Reward and Recognition Scheme (R&RS) and other initiatives like the Federal Public Service Entrepreneurship Programme and the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Scheme.
In her address, Yemi-Esan emphasized the government’s commitment to the welfare of its workforce, citing the completion of the 116-unit FISH Housing Estate in Gwagwalada as a significant achievement.
The award night concluded with acknowledgments of outstanding civil servants and a renewed commitment from the government to foster a culture of excellence and integrity within the civil service.
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Good. Those who refuse to comply should be followed up appropriately. Either they comply (and also forfeit their pensions etc) or have their host countries formally notified of their fraudulent actions.
I totally agree with you Yet, these are the same bunch of pretenders who ran abroad that Nigeria is badly run not knowing they too, are rotten eggs contributing to the ills befalling the nation. I wish their names would be published publicly for us all to see. Thanks for your comments.