Tinubu orders forensic audit of IPPIS, federal govt systems

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to oversee a comprehensive forensic audit of Federal Government systems, including the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

The directive was contained in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday.

According to the statement, the audit will cover IPPIS, Federal Government agencies and their administrative and internal control systems.

The directive followed the resolution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of August 19, 2026, in response to findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concerning alleged fake agencies, ghost workers and other weaknesses in government control systems.

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The Presidency said the exercise would determine the nature and extent of weaknesses in government systems and establish how such weaknesses may have been exploited.

Audit to focus on payroll, personnel and financial systems

The forensic exercise will comprise two interconnected components.

The first component will focus on government systems, particularly IPPIS and related payroll, personnel, pension and financial-management platforms.

It will examine reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile figures identified by the ICPC and trace how fictitious or ineligible persons may have been enrolled in government systems.

The audit will also review access, identity, biometric and bank-account controls associated with the platforms.

According to the statement, the exercise will examine the interfaces between IPPIS and other government platforms, including the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), Remita, Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Sub-Treasury Account.

It will further determine whether identified irregularities resulted from system defects, process failures, inadequate segregation of duties or deliberate circumvention of established controls.

All FG agencies, parastatals to be examined

The second component will cover Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, councils, parastatals and other government bodies.

The audit will establish a definitive inventory of such entities and verify their legal basis.

It will also examine how government entities obtain official recognition, budgetary consideration, correspondence privileges, office facilities and access to government systems.

In addition, governance, procurement, internal-audit and oversight mechanisms across government will be assessed to identify and close systemic weaknesses that could enable irregular entities or individuals to access public resources.

President Tinubu directed that the exercise be conducted with the highest standards of independence, professionalism and forensic integrity.

The audit team will have access to relevant government systems and records and will collaborate with the ICPC to ensure that the exercise complements ongoing investigations, prosecutions and recovery efforts.

Tinubu seeks systemic reforms

According to Onanuga, President Tinubu expects the exercise to go beyond identifying individual cases of fraud or administrative failures.

The Presidency said the audit would focus on strengthening the architecture of government, closing systemic loopholes, improving data verification and reconciliation, reinforcing accountability and ensuring that only duly constituted entities and eligible personnel have access to government resources.

The exercise, the statement added, underscores the President’s commitment to transparency, accountability, fiscal governance and institutional integrity across the Federal Government.