‘Job racketeering’: We were paid salaries without working, beneficiaries tell reps panel

  Fourteen persons on Monday told a house of representatives ad hoc committee how they were receiving salaries from the federal government without working with any agency.   The ad-hoc committee chaired by Yusuf Gagdi is investigating job racketeering by ministries, departments and agencies and also mismanagement of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS).   The beneficiaries also told the committee that they paid money to Haruna Kolo, a former IPPIS desk officer and chief of protocol to  Muheeba Dankaka, chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), for job offers.   Recall Kolo had alleged that job seekers paid millions of naira into his personal accounts for him to take to  Dankaka.   The FCC chairperson has denied any wrongdoing, alleging that it is corruption that is fighting back.   Gbadamosi Jalo, one of the beneficiaries, said Kolo took him to the IPPIS office and registered him on its portal, adding that he had been receiving salaries since then.   Jalo told the committee he had not been assigned to any government ministry, department or agency — but was given an appointment letter supposedly issued by the National Institute of Oceanography.   He further told the panel that one Gambo Yisha’u, driver to the commissioner representing Taraba at the FCC also confirmed to him that such money ended up with the chairperson.   Twelve other witnesses made similar submissions alleging that they paid money to Kolo, but had not been posted to any ministry, department or agency of government.   While speaking, Gagdi said the witnesses were invited by the committee to know about their statements of account and payment to Kolo.   Gagdi reiterated that the panel would get to the root of the matter and recommend appropriate sanctions.   Meanwhile, Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), also explained to the committee why the examination body employed 300 people without advertising.   Oloyede said the recruitment of the 300 people was done to fill vacancies in the board created by the retirement of some members of staff.   Members of the committee alleged that the examination body had been undertaking employment without due process of advertisement and shortlisting qualified job seekers before letters are issued.   The lawmakers noted that the agency had been getting waivers for the recruitment of staff yet it failed to adhere to the provisions of the law on non-engagement of more than 100 staff annually.   They said available documents showed that the board in 2021 employed more than 300 staff in a single recruitment exercise without adhering to the extant provision of law on the issue.