President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a “comprehensive” forensic audit of Federal Government systems.
The directive was given to Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, following the resolution by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), in response to conclusions by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on ““fake agencies”, ghost workers”.
In a State House Press Release signed by Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, on Friday 28 August, 2026, the audit will encompass “a review of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), Federal Government agencies, and their administration and internal controls.”
The audit will help discover the “nature and extent of weaknesses” in the control system of government.
The State House Press Release reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, to oversee and coordinate a comprehensive forensic audit of Federal Government systems.
“President Tinubu’s directive follows the Federal Executive Council’s resolution on August 19, 2026, in response to findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on “fake agencies”, ghost workers, and other control failures.
“The exercise will establish the nature and extent of weaknesses in Government’s control system, and determine how such weaknesses have been exploited.”
The SHPR disclosed, the review will consist of “two interconnected components”, first will be “forensic audit of Government systems”, and the second will “cover all Federal Government agencies and other government bodies”.
The President also ordered the exercise be carried out with the “highest standard of forensic integrity” as the audit team is expected to work with the ICPC to ensure the review “complements all ongoing investigations”.
It further reads: “The review will comprise two interconnected components.
“The first will focus on a forensic audit of Government systems, particularly IPPIS and related payroll, personnel, pension and financial-management platforms. It will examine reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile the figures identified by the ICPC, trace how fictitious or ineligible persons were enrolled, and review access, identity, biometric and bank-account controls.
“The exercise will also examine the interfaces between IPPIS and other government platforms, including GIFMIS, Remita, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Sub-TSA, to determine whether fraud resulted from system defects, process failures, inadequate segregation of duties or deliberate circumvention.
“The second component of the audit will cover all Federal Government agencies, departments, commissions, councils, parastatals and other government bodies. It will establish a definitive inventory of such bodies and verify their legal basis, while examining how entities obtain official recognition, budgetary consideration, correspondence privileges, office facilities and access to government systems.
“The exercise will assess governance, procurement, internal-audit, and oversight controls across Government to close systemic weaknesses that could allow irregular entities or persons to access public resources.
“President Tinubu directed that the exercise be conducted with the highest standards of independence, professionalism and forensic integrity.
“The audit team will have access to relevant government systems and records. It will collaborate with the ICPC to ensure that the review complements all ongoing investigations, prosecutions and recoveries.”
