A recent forensic audit of the Osun State Civil Service has uncovered that the government disbursed over N13 billion annually to 8,452 ghost workers, inflating the payroll and wasting public funds. The audit, conducted by Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited, examined both civil servants and pensioners across the state.
Titansloaded reports that the verification exercise revised the state’s workforce to 29,004 staff and 17,918 pensioners, reducing the monthly payroll from N4.48 billion to N3.34 billion. This adjustment translates into potential savings of N1.14 billion monthly and N13.7 billion annually for the government.
The audit covered the civil service, local government staff, SUBEB, TESCOM, state-owned higher institutions, and pensioners receiving payments from the state. The exercise spanned from June 2022 to April 2023 and aimed to promote accountability and ensure efficient use of public funds.
Titansloaded also reports that the audit briefing cost N600 million and was carried out professionally, independent of political influence. However, the government has been accused of delaying implementation of the recommendations and failing to settle the consulting firm’s fees since the report’s submission in June 2024.
The consulting firm, through legal counsel Jiti Ogunye, criticised the state government’s separate re-verification exercise, describing it as unnecessary and a potential way to continue ghost payments. He maintained that the original audit findings followed global standards and should guide immediate reforms.
Anti-graft agencies have been called upon to investigate the situation, enforce the audit recommendations, and prevent further loss of public resources. Observers note that ignoring these findings could undermine transparency and accountability in Osun State governance.
The Osun State Government has not yet issued an official response, although a spokesperson had earlier promised to comment. The audit underscores the urgent need for strict monitoring of public payrolls to prevent inflated salaries and misuse of taxpayer money.
