President Bola Tinubu has directed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to ensure that all civil servants who were drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.
The president also directed that heads of units and supervisors of those involved be punished for conniving with the culprits to rip off the government.
President Tinubu gave the directive over the weekend during an event organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF) to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week.
President Tinubu expressed dismay over the criminal attitude of those involved across various government establishments.
He said, “During my recent visit to South Africa, I kept abreast of the week’s activities. 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.
“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. Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch.”
“Our administration acknowledges the challenges the civil service is facing. I want to give you the assurance that we are committed to ensuring the welfare and development of all civil servants to deliver optimal performance for the growth of our nation.
“Over the past year, I have provided all the necessary support to the head of the civil service of the federation to ensure the continued stability of the civil service. I also supported the office in implementing far-reaching policies and reforms capable of improving efficiency and service delivery.”
