society
Outrage as UK-based driver remains on FG payroll
Outrage as UK-based driver remains on FG payroll
There was outrage on Sunday over a United Kingdom-based taxi driver, who remained on the Federal Government’s payroll despite migrating to the UK in 2022.
Civil society organisations who spoke to The PUNCH on Sunday said the report was an indication of how deeply-rooted corruption was in the Nigerian civil service.
President Bola Tinubu had last week ordered a crackdown on civil servants who were still collecting salaries despite migrating abroad.
“The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected,” he said.
The BBC had on Sunday reported that a 36-year-old Nigerian civil servant, referred to as Sabitu Adams (not real name), who moved to the United Kingdom in 2022, was still collecting the salary of a civil servant.
‘Collecting N150,000 monthly’
According to the report, despite working as a taxi driver in the UK, Adams disclosed to the BBC that he continues to receive N150,000 monthly from the government job in Nigeria due to an understanding with his boss.
He said, “When I heard about the President’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried.”
Adams said he thought he would probably return after spending some years abroad when asked why he refused to resign from his position after relocating to the UK.
“To be honest, I didn’t resign because I wanted to leave that door open in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years,” he said.
Corrupt civil service
Commenting on the case of the UK-based driver, civil society organisation emphasised the need for stringent measures to restore accountability and effectiveness within the civil service.
They called for the prosecution of those involved in unauthorised salary payments and urged the government to take decisive action to address this corruption.
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa, raised alarm over the pervasive corruption and lack of accountability within Nigeria’s civil service.
Musa stated, “I think the lack of accountability in governance is the crux of the matter because if people who are not supposed to collect salaries are still collecting, it can mean that some people are coordinating to short-change the nation.
“This can only happen because of the bastardisation of the civil service system. Everything is corrupted. A lot of people are getting these salaries and allowances without appearing in the office. I think corruption has undermined the effectiveness of the civil service in Nigeria,” he said.
Musa called for a comprehensive audit of workers and urged that those involved in these corrupt practices be held accountable.
On his part, the Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, criticised the dereliction of duty by civil service leaders.
He stated, “It is an admission of dereliction of duty and it is enough for the Head of the Civil Service to be fired because it is her job to ensure that every civil servant is at his duty post at every particular time.
“They should supervise the supervisors, oversee the functioning of each officer, and render a performance index at the end of every day. The buck stops on her desk.”
Adeniran also called for accountability from the heads of agencies, departments, and key officials like the accountant general and auditor general. He stressed the importance of maintaining attendance registers and job performance records as references for salary processing.
He also said those who aided such practices should be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for proper investigation and prosecution.
Also, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko, emphasised the need for consequences for those responsible.
He asked, “What is going to happen to the person that allowed it to happen? That is what the government should be asking. Extend it to those who benefited initially from the funds. If it is the Head of Service, the person should be dismissed. If the person is no longer in service, then appropriate actions must be taken.”
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwagunma, said the practice was unacceptable within the public service.
He stated, “If any public servant needs to travel out of Nigeria and stay away from work, there must be a permit.”
Biodun Sowunmi of the Think Tank Group, a democratic institute dedicated to ensuring the stability of democracy in Nigeria, attributed the situation to a total system breakdown.
Sowunmi urged the government to take decisive action to identify and punish those responsible for exploiting the country’s resources by taking advantage of the porous system.
He said, “We now have a situation whereby we have workers both in the state and federal civil service, but in reality, some of them are based abroad. Either they went for a quick job or they relocated abroad without their salaries being discontinued. This is a mark of corruption within the system.
“The new payment system introduced by the Federal Government was meant to address this. What is happening now shows the weakness in the system. It has not been able to stop the milking of the resources of the country by those who have migrated.
“It is not only these people who should be made to pay back but also those who are authorising the payment at the departmental level should also be made to face the music. How could they have been collecting salaries for a year and more without anybody not knowing?
“Whoever is in charge of certifying the payment of workers should also be culpable. All of those within the service who collaborated with these people should be prosecuted. The government should go all out to fish them out; otherwise, those conspiring to cheat the country would not desist from doing so.”
Also, the President of the Centre for Human and Social Economic Rights, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, said individuals would keep exploiting resources as long as anti-corruption agencies remained selective in their efforts to combat the corruption crisis in the country.
He noted, “That is what we are saying about how corruption has eaten deep into our policies, and the so-called anti-graft agencies are experts in selectiveness in the fight against corruption.
“It is obvious that the EFCC and ICPC only go after those that don’t play ball or have a godfather because it’s only when the person involved is not among the untouchables. First, the person who is paying must know about it. Secondly, the ministry or MDAs he belongs to must be questioned.”
@PUNCHNG
CAC Palace of Light & Salvation Marks 8th Anniversary with Four-Day Spiritual Programme
LAGOS — The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Palace of Light & Salvation, Vineyard of Mercy District Coordinating Council (DCC), is set to celebrate its 8th anniversary with a four-day programme of revival, prayer, and thanksgiving.
The anniversary, themed “And It Came to Pass,” is drawn from the biblical text in Habakkuk 2:3, which church leaders describe as a guiding scripture received at the inception of the ministry nearly eight years ago.
Journey of Faith and Growth
According to the leadership, the church’s journey to its eighth year has been marked by challenges and perseverance. They noted that despite periods described as “bumpy and clouded,” the ministry has continued to grow, attributing its progress to divine grace and sustained faith.
Programme Schedule
The anniversary celebration will feature a series of spiritual activities scheduled as follows:
April 8–9: Revival Services (6:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
April 10: Prayer Vigil (11:00 pm)
April 12: Grand Anniversary Thanksgiving Service (10:00 am)
Guest Ministers
The event will host several ministers, including Prophet Timothy Olatunbosun Igbalajobi (Host Minister), Prophet Akinola Fasawe (Guest Minister), and Pastor Gideon Adeyemi Ajayi (Assembly Pastor).
Venue and Invitation
Activities will hold at the church auditorium located at 2, Delana Ojo Street, Silva Estate, by Church Bus Stop, near Chrisland College, Idimu, in Alimosho area of Lagos.
The church has extended an open invitation to members of the public and residents of the Idimu community to participate in the anniversary events.
For enquiries, interested participants can contact the organisers via +234 803 489 2275 or +234 803 833 6935.
Nigerians Are Being Asked to Accept Dysfunction as Normal-Banwo
Lawyer and public affairs commentator, Dr. Ope Banwo, has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s governance landscape, warning that citizens are gradually being conditioned to accept systemic failures as a normal way of life.
In a strongly worded critique, Banwo painted a picture of a country where basic services remain inconsistent despite years of policy promises and public spending, raising concerns about accountability and leadership priorities.
He pointed to the continued instability in electricity supply, describing it as a long-standing issue that continues to burden households and businesses alike. According to him, the reliance on alternative power sources has become an economic strain that reflects deeper structural inefficiencies.
Banwo also highlighted persistent challenges in the education sector, where disruptions and extended academic timelines have become familiar patterns. He argued that such conditions place young Nigerians at a disadvantage in an increasingly competitive global environment.
On healthcare, he noted that limited public confidence in local systems continues to drive medical travel abroad among those who can afford it, a trend he said raises questions about the effectiveness of domestic investment in the sector.
Beyond service delivery, Banwo expressed concern over what he described as a visible disconnect between public officials and the realities faced by citizens. He referenced widespread perceptions of inequality and questioned whether governance structures are sufficiently aligned with public needs.
“What is worrying is not just the existence of these problems,” he said, “but the growing acceptance of them as inevitable.”
Banwo argued that when dysfunction becomes normalized, the urgency for reform diminishes, allowing systemic issues to persist unchecked.
He called for stronger institutional accountability, emphasizing the need for transparency in public spending and decision-making. While refraining from naming individuals, he stressed that sustainable development requires leadership that is both responsive and responsible
*Primate Ayodele’s Prophecies On Former President’s Death, Deputy Gov, Others Fulfilled
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele is in the news again for the fulfilment of his prophecies as usual.
As we know, the only time Primate Ayodele gets in the news is when he makes prophecies and when they come to pass. No extra, no unnecessary attention, no lifestyle showcasing, just doing what God has sent him to do.
Just as it had been established earlier, Primate Ayodele has nothing less than 20,000 prophecies that have been fulfilled to his credit and as the day goes by, they continue to increase.
Recent additions to his fulfilled prophecies include:
1 Death of Former Algeria President: Former Algerian President Liamine Zeroual has died at the age of 85, the Algerian presidency said Sunday.
A statement said Zeroual had been battling illness for some time and was receiving treatment at the Mohamed Seghir Nekkache Military Hospital.
He died at the hospital.
Primate Ayodele had in a prophetic session warned nations to be pray against the death of a former president.
2 Resignation of Kano Deputy governor: The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, has resigned from the position, citing the need to ensure stability in governance and allow the office to function effectively.
In a press statement issued by the Kwankwasiyya Movement on Friday, the decision was described as “difficult” but necessary in the overall interest of the people of Kano State.
“The Deputy Governor of Kano State has tendered his resignation from office… This decision, though difficult, has been taken in the overall interest of the people and the stability of governance in Kano State.”
Primate Ayodele in a prophetic moment had revealed that it is not every deputy governor that will finish their tenure, indicating that some may die or resign. The prophecy was first fulfilled with the deputy governor of Bayelsa state and now Kano, with resignation.
3 Plateau attacks: The Plateau State Government has imposed a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area following a deadly attack in the Angwan Rukuba community.
In a statement on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the curfew would take effect from midnight of March 29 to April 1, 2026.
The government said the decision followed a “tragic security incident” in the area, which resulted in loss of lives and left several others injured.
The statement read, “Following the tragic security incident that occurred at Gari Ya Waye community, Angwan Rukuba, today, Sunday, 29th March 2026, resulting in the loss of lives, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Primate Ayodele had in several prophecies mentioned that Plateau state would be attacked by gunmen. He called on security operatives to watch out and prepare ahead for the attacks.
These were his words:
“Terrorist attacks will be extended to Nasarawa, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, Benue, Abuja and Kogi. Let the CDS and COAS brainstorm and strategise, it’s time to eliminate terrorists in the country.
“They are both capable hands, they should not allow these terrorists to destroy their legacies and credibility.
”The ESN is also planning an attack in the South-East, it is a red alert because they want to abort a lot of people including an emir,”
https://tribuneonlineng.com/primate-ayodele-names-states-to-be-attacked-by-terrorists/
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