Oyedele says review will expose governance gaps and strengthen controls across government institutions.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ordered a comprehensive forensic investigation into government processes and internal controls following the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigation into the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Wednesday after the FEC meeting, saying the ICPC investigation had uncovered additional fictitious bodies within the government system.
He said the forensic review would establish how such entities were created, identify weaknesses that allowed them to operate and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and other relevant agencies to jointly address the issue, covering administrative, accounting and governance processes.
Oyedele said the review would also examine the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), warning that the existence of fake agencies could facilitate the creation of ghost workers.
He said bogus institutions and ghost workers undermine efforts to improve the welfare and salaries of genuine civil servants by diverting public resources.
The PFIPC controversy followed allegations by the organisation’s self-acclaimed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of demanding a percentage of the agency’s alleged N27.3 billion take-off grant.
Adeyemi also alleged that Gbajabiamila received N400 million through a proxy and requested another N200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila has denied the allegations, stating in a sworn statement that he had no personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi and neither demanded nor received money from him.
The Chief of Staff also denied allegations linking him to the alleged death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi claimed was an intermediary, as well as claims of an assassination attempt and interference with investigations.
Following the allegations, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the matter.