EFCC screening Delta civil servants to fish out ghost workers – Delta HOS

Mininim Oseji, the Delta State Head of Service, Monday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is conducting a comprehensive verification exercise in the state’s civil service to identify ghost workers.

Oseji said the investigation also includes the screening of the Head of Service and other officials of various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the state.

The clarification seems to have laid to rest the questions in some quarters on who invited the commission to investigate the workers as many citizens believed it was a misplaced priority for the agency to focus on civil servants instead of political office holders.

Speaking on the issue, in Asaba, during the press briefing by the HOS to mark the state 2026 Civil Service Week with the theme,  “Reforms, Resilience and Results”, Oseji said neither she nor the state government invited the agency.

She said EFCC operatives visited the state to examine payroll records, nominal rolls and other official documents as part of a nationwide exercise to investigate possible irregularities in public service personnel management.

The anti-graft agency had informed the state government that it was carrying out similar verification exercises across several states and had the legal authority to investigate any suspected financial or administrative misconduct relating to public sector payroll administration, she explained.

Oseji said that although the agency initially offered to exempt her from the screening because of her position as the state’s highest-ranking civil service, she rejected the offer, insisting on undergoing the same verification process as every other public servant.

“I told them no. As the number one civil servant in the state, I must lead by example. I insisted on being screened,” she said.

She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a more efficient, technology-driven and result-oriented public service, adding that this year’s civil service week celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the public service and renew commitment to professionalism, accountability, integrity, innovation and service excellence.

She said the state government was strengthening institutions, improving staff capacity and modernizing service delivery through enhanced digital infrastructure, inter-agency collaboration and policies that promote merit and inclusiveness.