Tinubu Approves Comprehensive Forensic Audit of IPPIS, Federal Agencies

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a comprehensive forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and Federal Government agencies, ministries and other institutions to uncover systemic weaknesses and strengthen accountability.
The President directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, to oversee and coordinate the exercise.
According to a State House statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the directive followed the Federal Executive Council’s resolution of August 19, 2026, following findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concerning alleged fake agencies, ghost workers and other control failures.
The audit will focus on two major areas, including a forensic review of government systems, particularly IPPIS and related payroll, personnel, pension and financial-management platforms.
The exercise will investigate reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile figures identified by the ICPC, trace how fictitious or ineligible persons were enrolled, and examine identity, biometric and bank-account controls.
It will also review the relationship between IPPIS and other government platforms, including GIFMIS, Remita, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Sub-TSA, to determine whether fraudulent activities resulted from system defects, process failures or deliberate circumvention of controls.
The second component will cover Federal Government agencies, departments, commissions, councils, parastatals and other government bodies.
According to the Presidency, the audit will establish a definitive inventory of government entities, verify their legal basis and examine how organisations obtain official recognition, budgetary allocations, correspondence privileges, office facilities and access to government systems.
President Tinubu said the exercise must 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 the review complements ongoing investigations, prosecutions and recoveries.
The President said the exercise is expected to strengthen government systems, close loopholes, improve data verification and reconciliation, reinforce accountability and ensure that only duly constituted entities and eligible personnel have access to public resources.