A Nigerian man, name unknown, has admitted to receiving a salary from the Nigerian government despite relocating to the United Kingdom two years ago.
He was responding to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s threat to crack down on civil servants who had resigned or left the country but were still on the government’s payroll.
“The culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected,” Tinubu had said last week.
Tinubu added that not only should the money be repaid but those who were complicit in allowing it to happen should be investigated too.
Speaking to BBC, the former civil servant said he now drove a taxi in the UK but still earns his N150,000 salary every month. He admitted his boss is his relative, making the plan possible and effective.
He said he was not afraid of losing the money after Tinubu’s threat, saying he makes enough to be comfortable. He added that the President’s threats are empty.
He revealed that the plan was to give him an option of returning to his job if he found the UK uncomfortable.
“When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried,” the 36-year-old said.
Reports say some supervisors collude with government employees to share their salaries when they resign.
Auwal Yakasai, who retired as a director in charge of finance at Kano State’s information ministry in 2021 after 32 years in service, told BBC, ”To be honest I have never caught anyone red-handed.
“But I have heard numerous stories of such arrangements, where someone would still be receiving [a] salary after relocating or changing their place of work.”
