President Bola Tinubu has said Civil Servants who relocated abroad but still receive salaries will be punished.
The President said this on Sunday at the 2024 Civil Service Week Award and Gala night in Abuja, Nigeria.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, President Tinubu said while it is heartening to hear that measures have been taken to address the issue, the government must ensure those responsible are held accountable.
He said culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected and their supervisors and Department Heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch.
The President emphasised that the civil service of any nation is too important for such misconduct to take root or be tolerated,
Describing the Civil Service as the bedrock of the government, necessary for the delivery of public goods to citizens, the President noted that a nation is as good as its Civil service.
He therefore, restated his commitment to empowering the human capital within the Civil Service by fostering a culture of excellence and instilling confidence among the civil servants.
President Tinubu further acknowledged the challenges the civil service faces and reassured his administration’s commitment to ensuring the welfare and development of all civil servants to deliver optimal performance for the growth of the nation.
He also commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan in steering the reforms towards creating a world-class service that upholds meritocracy and excellence.