- The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress alleged that 8,452 ghost workers were inserted into the state payroll, costing ₦13.7bn annually
- APC chairman Tajudeen Lawal called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the claims
- Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated and insisting most flagged workers were genuine staff
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged the existence of a ₦13.7bn annual payroll fraud under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The allegation was made on Friday during a press conference in Osogbo addressed by the state APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal. The briefing was held at the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office along the Gbongan–Osogbo Road.
Lawal claimed that disclosures attributed to the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited, Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun, had vindicated the opposition party’s long-standing concerns about the state’s payroll system.
According to the APC, the forensic audit firm alleged that 8,452 ghost workers were inserted into the Osun State payroll, resulting in an annual financial loss of ₦13,716,914,129.28. The claim was first made public in January at a press conference in Lagos by the firm’s chief executive, who spoke through legal counsel.
Lawal described the alleged findings as alarming and called on anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to launch a comprehensive investigation.
He further alleged that one civil servant was receiving salaries meant for 5,615 workers, questioning why decisive action had not been taken following the submission of the audit report in July 2024.
“If this claim is accurate, continued inaction would be indefensible,” Lawal said, adding that the people of Osun State deserved clarity on the chain of authority and accountability within the government.
The APC also raised concerns over the reported purchase of an Automated Payroll Administrative System valued at ₦79m, alleging that payment was made without confirmed delivery or deployment.
However, the Osun State Government has firmly denied the allegations. In an earlier statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government described the claims as “fake news” sponsored by the APC.
The state maintained that verification of the audit report showed that more than two-thirds of those labelled as ghost workers were genuine staff with proper identification and documentation. It added that Governor Adeleke had initiated the staff audit to address payroll irregularities and remained open to investigation by relevant anti-corruption agencies.
The controversy underscores deepening political tensions in the state, with the opposition insisting on an independent probe while the government dismisses the allegations as politically motivated.