The audit will investigate payroll fraud, fake government agencies and weaknesses in the Federal Government’s financial and administrative controls.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), federal agencies and other government systems.
The President directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to coordinate the exercise.
The directive followed a Federal Executive Council resolution on August 19, 2026, based on findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on alleged fake agencies, ghost workers and other control failures.
The audit will examine payroll, personnel, pension and financial-management systems, including IPPIS, GIFMIS, Remita, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Sub-TSA.
It will investigate reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, verify how fictitious or ineligible persons were enrolled, and assess identity, biometric, bank-account and system-access controls.
The exercise will also cover federal ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, councils and parastatals to verify their legal status and access to government resources.
President Tinubu said the audit must meet the highest standards of independence and forensic integrity, while complementing ongoing ICPC investigations, prosecutions and recovery efforts.
The exercise is expected to identify systemic loopholes, strengthen government controls and ensure that only legitimate entities and eligible personnel have access to public resources.