President Muhammadu Buharihas stated that nearly $550 million has been saved from identifying ghost employees from the federal government’s payroll.
The president revealed this in a special write-up entitled; “Corruption threats Nigeria and its election’’ which he released in Abuja on Sunday.
He said more ghost workers would be removed.
Mr Buhari also expressed optimism that more money could be recovered through the whistle-blower policy as over 370 million dollars had been returned since its launch in 2016.
“More ghost workers must be removed from government payroll (almost $550 million has been saved from identifying phantom employees),” he said.
“More can be recovered through our whistle-blower policy ($370 million has been returned since its launch in 2016).
“More is still to come. But, together, we shall prevail over corruption.”
He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians, particularly the electorate to make a wise choice in the forthcoming presidential election by way of re-electing the governing All Progressives Congress to sustain and improve on the ongoing crusade on corruption.
He reassured that due process would continue to be followed in the fight against corruption even though his administration had changed the way of tackling corruption in the country.
The president added: “A Yoruba proverb states that only the patient one can milk a lion. Likewise, victory over corruption is difficult, but not impossible. We must not flounder in our resolve. I know many Nigerians would like to see faster action. So do I.
“But so too must we follow due process and exercise restraint, ensuring allegation never takes the place of evidence. For that is not the Nigeria we should wish to build.”
