The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers across 50 federal ministries, departments and agencies following a payroll verification exercise.

The ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed the findings while speaking about the commission's investigation into payroll fraud in federal institutions, saying it recovered about ₦942 million allegedly paid as fraudulent salaries to individuals suspected to be fake workers.

Aliyu revealed that investigators uncovered a case involving an individual who allegedly added his wife, son and mother-in-law to the payroll while also collecting the salaries of 12 other workers. Among the affected institutions, the Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected ghost workers, with 570 names identified.

The National Water Resources Authority ranked second, with 80 suspected fake workers uncovered. Other institutions affected include the Federal Ministry of Works, with 56 suspected ghost workers, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with 24. The Ministry of Defence recorded 19, while the Federal Ministry of Electricity and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment each had 17.

The Federal Ministry of Health recorded 15 suspected ghost workers, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had 12. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Interior were also listed among institutions affected. The commission said investigations, which began in 2024, are still ongoing.