Employment fraud hits MDAs, as HCSF sets up committee to investigate

Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) on Monday set up a committee to investigate the employment fraud that has hit some Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee on Enrolment of Newly Recruited Civil Servants on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in Abuja, Yemi-Esan, said the committee was raised to stem wanton impunity, sharp practices and fraud that have characterised recruitments in the MDAs.

This is contained in a statement by Mr AbdulGaniyu Aminu, Director Press & Public Relations in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

Yemi-Esan said the inauguration of the committee became necessary to address irregularities in the recruitment of officers by Ministries, Extra- Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

She said, “It is disheartening, that a large number of fake appointment letters have been discovered in some Ministries, which if not properly addressed, would lead to the denial of employment to a great number of prospective and eligible law-abiding job seekers in the country.

“The Office is already collaborating with security agencies to investigate and bring to book those behind this fraud,” she said.

Yemi-Esan who was full of appreciation for the support given to her by President Muhammadu Buhari for the implementation of the Human Resource (HR) module of the IPPIS, added that the Office was committed to a transparent, accountable and uncompromised IPPIS platform that would rid the system of ghost workers, reduce personnel cost and enhance economic planning.

She further enjoined members of the Committee to view the assignment as a matter of national importance, which demanded their wealth of experience and hard work in ensuring a reliable and credible IPPIS platform.

In his response, the Chairman of the Committee and Permanent Secretary, Career Management, OHCSF, Mr. Mamman Mahmuda, said the Committee would carry out the assignment with all sense of responsibility, with a view to achieving the civil service that would be the pride of all.

Members of the Committee include the Consultant, IPPIS-OHCSF Mrs Anne Atta, Director, Employee Mobility-OHCSF Mr. Tijani Inuwa, Director, ODD-OHCSF Mr. Ben. Omogo Director, IPPIS-OAGF Dr. Nsikak Ben, Director, Recruitment-FCSC Mr. Ibrahim Anjugu, while the Deputy Director, IPPIS-OHCSF Mr. Francis Ikyenge is the Secretary.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference include to “identify the challenges associated with the old process to guide the new process; examine the new processes of enrolling newly recruited officers on the IPPIS platform as well as
identify the benefits derivable from the new process including cost saving, where possible.”

Other terms are to “Initiate the process of enrolling new employees on the IPPIS platform guided by the new procedure; ensure that the enrolment of new employees on IPPIS is based on the approved waivers from the OHCSF and treated and capture all backlogs of newly recruited Officers based on the new procedure, subject to authentication of appointment letters, approved waivers; financial clearance and Federal Character Commission Compliance Certificate, where applicable.” (Daily Independent)