Despite moving to the UK two years ago, Sabitu Adams is still receiving his monthly salary as a junior official at a Nigerian government agency.
He is currently working as a taxi driver in the UK, and his identity was altered in a BBC report to protect his anonymity.
Adams has not resigned from his Nigerian civil service position, indicating the widespread issue of ghost workers within the Nigerian civil service. This fraudulent practice involves individuals receiving salaries without performing any actual duties.
Although the government conducts annual biometric verifications to identify these ghost workers and claims to save significant amounts of money, no arrests or prosecutions are ever announced.
Recently, President Bola Tinubu ordered that all civil servants who are drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad must refund the money. He also directed that the supervisors and department heads of these individuals be punished for enabling the fraud.
Adams, however, expressed indifference to the president’s directive, noting that he earns more as a taxi driver in the UK. “When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried,” the 36-year-old said.
Adams admitted he did not resign from his Nigerian job “in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years.” He revealed that he has an arrangement with his boss in Nigeria, who is a relative.
