The case of the Nigerian taxi driver in the UK, who continues to receive a salary from the Nigerian government despite having left the country, highlights ongoing challenges with the ghost worker phenomenon in the Nigerian Civil Service. Here are the key points:
**Salary Continuation**: The taxi driver, who left Nigeria two years ago, has not formally resigned from his position as a junior official in a government agency. Consequently, he still receives a monthly salary of 150,000 naira ($100 or £80) from the Nigerian government.
**President’s Directive**: Recently, President Bola Tinubu ordered a crackdown on civil servants who are in similar situations—receiving salaries despite being abroad without formal resignation. He emphasized that such individuals must repay the money they have received fraudulently, and those complicit in aiding them should face consequences.
**Response from the Taxi Driver**: Despite the directive, the taxi driver expressed indifference about losing his Nigerian salary. He mentioned that he now earns more through his taxi driving in the UK and isn’t concerned about losing the Nigerian income.
**Systemic Issues**: The case underscores systemic weaknesses in the Nigerian Civil Service, particularly regarding ghost workers—individuals who are non-existent or no longer active but still receive salaries due to lax verification processes and corruption.
**Reasons for Non-Resignation**: The taxi driver cited reasons why he didn’t formally resign, including leaving the possibility of returning to his job open in the future.
Overall, the situation reflects broader challenges within the Nigerian Civil Service, where efforts to curb ghost workers and ensure fiscal discipline continue to be undermined by loopholes and inadequate oversight.
