Tinubu Embarks on Job Verification over Allegations of Job-for Sale Scandal

The Tinubu administration has embarked on a renewed verification initiative for civil servants employed between 2013 and 2020, amidst allegations of employment-for-sale schemes and racketeering scandals.

This directive, articulated in a circular dated August 4, 2025, and endorsed by Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), mandates that any civil servant failing to participate will be presumed to possess fraudulent appointment documentation and subject to immediate termination.

President Bola Tinubu’s government has mandated this verification exercise, impacting numerous individuals employed within the Federal Civil Service during the specified period, as a response to pervasive accusations concerning the illicit sale of employment positions to aspirants.

The directive, detailed in the aforementioned circular, cautions that non-compliance will result in the presumption of a counterfeit appointment letter and consequent dismissal.

The document specifies that this re-verification is aimed at personnel who did not partake in the 2021 verification process.

The Commission has stressed that “no further extension will be granted,” while accusing certain officials of intentionally abstaining to evade scrutiny.

Recent reports have unveiled a petition submitted to the House of Representatives by whistleblower Martins Oghenerhoro Richard Atijegbe, alleging that senior officials within the Ministry of Works have been vending federal employment opportunities to desperate Nigerians for sums reaching N2.5 million. Martins, an employee in the ministry’s Human Resource Management Department, disclosed how inadequately qualified individuals were clandestinely integrated into the civil service using forged employment letters and swiftly enrolled in the federal payroll system, IPPIS.

“My petition to both chambers of the National Assembly pertains to employment racketeering involving the Minister of Works,” Martins declared in a statement provided to SaharaReporters. He claimed that directors within the ministry orchestrated the scheme, exploiting their positions to sell federal jobs and circumvent proper recruitment protocols.

“The directors would collect N2.5 million from individuals, assign a job to them, and within a month, they would issue counterfeit documents and register them in IPPIS,” Martins elaborated. He revealed that his efforts to expose the corruption have made him a target for persecution.

“I discovered it and disclosed it publicly, and now I am being persecuted for doing so. I am on the brink of losing my job,” he lamented. The petition, filed by his attorney Liberty Semper Fidelis, accuses the Federal Ministry of Works of fraud, abuse of power, conspiracy, and attempts to conceal malfeasance, among other charges.

The Ministry has consistently repudiated any wrongdoing, labeling the allegations as “incredibly fictitious.” Providing SaharaReporters with a case update on Monday, the whistleblower stated, “Due to my petition, the Federal Civil Service Commission is verifying all appointment letters issued from 2013 to 2020 to determine the prevalence of fake letters within the system.”

A copy of the circular obtained by SaharaReporters instructs affected personnel to verify their names on the FCSC website, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation’s website, and notice boards within their respective ministries. They are required to present both original and photocopies of several critical documents, including appointment letters, regularisation, promotion, gazette confirmation, and the July 2025 IPPIS payslip.

The re-verification will occur from Monday, August 18 to Thursday, August 28, 2025, encompassing various ministries and government agencies, including the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Defence, Education, Justice, Works, Information, Science and Technology, Aviation, Finance, Interior, and the State House.

The circular states: The Federal Civil Service Commission has finalized arrangements to conduct a re-verification exercise for all individuals who failed to appear during the 2021 verification exercise for officers recruited by the Commission from 2013 to 2020.

“Consequently, all concerned officers are to verify their names on the Commission’s website (www.fedcivilservice.gov.ng), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation’s website (www.ohcsf.gov.ng), and the notice boards of your Ministry.

“In addition, all affected officers are to observe the following critical details: Each officer must bring the original and photocopy of the documents specified in the attached list; adhere strictly to the dates outlined in the attached schedule; verify the attached list sent to the Ministries for their names; officers who have been reassigned from the Ministry, are on Secondment/Transfer out of the Ministry, or on Study leave, must equally check the websites provided above; no further extension will be granted to any officer who fails to appear for the exercise; any officer who fails to appear for the exercise will be deemed to possess a fake appointment letter and is, therefore, intentionally avoiding detection; those who have recently visited the Commission for the exercise need not appear.”