President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and other Federal Government agencies and systems.
The audit will examine government payroll, personnel, pension and financial management systems to identify weaknesses, determine how they may have been exploited and strengthen controls against fraud and administrative abuse.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, the directive followed a resolution of the Federal Executive Council on August 19.
The exercise will cover ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, councils, parastatals and other government bodies.
Tinubu assigned the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to coordinate the audit, which the Presidency said would be conducted independently and in line with forensic standards.
The Presidency said the decision followed findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concerning alleged fake agencies, ghost workers and other weaknesses in government controls.
According to the Presidency, the audit will review cases identified by the ICPC and trace how fictitious or ineligible individuals may have been introduced into government payroll systems.
It will also examine access, identity, biometric and bank account controls, as well as the links between IPPIS and other government platforms, including the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, Remita, the Treasury Single Account and the Sub-Treasury Single Account.
Beyond payroll, the audit will establish an authoritative list of Federal Government entities and verify their legal foundations.
It will also examine how government bodies obtain official recognition, budgetary allocations, correspondence privileges, office facilities and access to government systems.
The review will further assess procurement procedures, internal audit mechanisms, governance structures and oversight arrangements across federal institutions to identify gaps that could facilitate improper access to public resources.
Tinubu directed relevant government agencies to make records and systems available to the audit team. The team will also work with the ICPC to ensure the exercise complements ongoing investigations, prosecutions and recovery efforts.
The Presidency said the broader objective is to strengthen government institutions, improve data verification and reconciliation, reinforce accountability and ensure that only legitimate entities and eligible personnel benefit from public resources.
The audit is part of the administration’s efforts to improve transparency, fiscal governance and institutional integrity across the Federal Government.