The federal government has set a final deadline for civil servants to verify their identities as part of efforts to eliminate ghost workers from the payroll.

According to a memo from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), all federal employees are required to complete the verification process by February 17, 2025.

The verification, which is being carried out on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) portal, demands civil servants to provide their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), IPPIS number, and salary account details.

The memo, sighted by our correspondent, reads in part: “Following the Treasury Circular with Ref. No. TRY/A6&B6/2024-OAGF/CAD/026/Vol. V/910 dated 27th June, 2024 on the above subject matter and subsequent extension dated 16 August, 2024, I am directed to inform you that AGF has approved the extension of the OAF-IPPIS Payroll Validation Portal for an additional one week (10 – 17 February 2025).”

It further emphasized that failure to meet the deadline could lead to serious consequences, including removal from the payroll.

“Officers who fail to avail themselves of this last opportunity may suffer some consequences which may include suspension from the payroll,” the memo warned.

Civil servants have been rushing to generate their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to comply with the requirement.

The OAGF has urged relevant authorities, including Directors and Heads of Finance & Account, to ensure the circular is widely circulated and adhered to.

The government’s crackdown on ghost workers has been ongoing. In 2024, President Bola Tinubu ordered that civil servants who continued drawing salaries while living abroad should refund the money.

He also directed disciplinary action against supervisors and department heads who enabled the fraud.

In line with the President’s directive, the verification process is seen as a key step toward ensuring a more efficient and transparent payroll system.