Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered government employees who have moved abroad without resigning but still earn salaries to return the money.
The President also said supervisors of these employees will face punishment for allowing such fraud.
During the 2024 Civil Service Award and Gala Night in Abuja on Saturday, Tinubu said such misconduct will not be tolerated and that the civil service must uphold rules and accountability.
“During my recent visit to South Africa, I kept abreast of the week’s activities and was particularly struck by the revelations shared by the Head of the Civil Service, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, regarding employees who 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,” Tinubu said.
Meanwhile, federal workers, represented by the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), have demanded that the government pay their overdue wage awards for March, April, and May 2024. They argue that they are not slaves and deserve their earnings.
This call for payment comes after Vice President Kashim Shettima urged Nigerians to resist the “Japa syndrome,” or mass emigration, and support national efforts to improve the country.
Federal workers have announced plans for continuous peaceful protests from June 24, 2024, if their demands are not met.
They seek support from industrial unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union congress (TUC), and condemn the delay in paying retired workers their pensions and gratuities. They also insist that protests are a fundamental right and that they are citizens, not slaves, deserving fair treatment and payment for their work.