By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
OSOGBO – The Osun State Government has dismissed claims of a ₦13 billion payroll fraud linked to a staff audit conducted by Sally Tibbot Limited, describing the allegation as APC-sponsored fake news aimed at discrediting the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the government said verification of the audit report showed that more than two-thirds of workers declared as ghost employees were bona fide staff with valid records and identification.
The government stated that Governor Adeleke initiated the staff audit to investigate allegations of a padded payroll inherited from the previous administration and has consistently welcomed investigation by anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
According to the government, the payroll under review covered the period from 2018 to November 2023, which largely falls under the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola. It maintained that if any fraud is eventually established, it would relate to the inherited payroll system.
The statement accused Sally Tibbot Limited of inflating the number of alleged ghost workers to increase its fees, which were reportedly tied to a percentage of savings. A review committee found that out of 8,448 workers declared “unseen,” 8,015 were confirmed active, while only 433 were unreachable. Similarly, out of 6,713 alleged ghost pensioners, 5,830 were verified, leaving 883 untraceable.
The government said the revised figures reduced the consultant’s expected payment from nearly ₦2 billion to about ₦47 million, after which the firm allegedly refused to cooperate fully with the review process.
It further disclosed that the integrated payroll system proposed by the consultant was rejected because it had not been tested or validated anywhere, raising serious technical concerns.
Reacting to the audit outcome, the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University reportedly expressed shock that he and several lecturers were declared ghost workers, with affected staff now considering legal action against the consultant.
Despite the controversy, the Osun State Government said it proceeded with a home-grown payroll reform, introducing a new integrated payroll system and strengthening oversight through technology.
The government accused the All Progressives Congress of using the consultant to spread misinformation, insisting that the allegations of a ₦13 billion payroll fraud are false.
— Newspot Nigeria
