FG threatens to sack 3,598 civil servants over missed verification

The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has issued a stern final warning to 3,598 civil servants who failed to participate in the 2021 verification exercise.

These officers have been ordered to appear for a fresh re-verification between August 18 and August 28, 2025, or face immediate dismissal for allegedly holding fake appointment letters.

An official circular dated August 4, 2025, and released on Monday, detailed the re-verification schedule. The affected personnel are drawn from various ministries and agencies, including Agriculture, Defence, Education, Justice, Works, Information, Science and Technology, Aviation, Finance, Interior, and the State House.

The FCSC said names of affected officers have been published on its official website, that of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), and the notice boards of the relevant ministries.

Those summoned are required to appear with the original and photocopies of:

Appointment and promotion letters

Gazette of appointment and confirmation

Staff change letter

July 2025 IPPIS payslip

The commission warned that officers must adhere strictly to the schedule provided, noting that no further extensions will be granted.

“Any officer who fails to turn up for the exercise will be adjudged to be holding a fake letter of appointment and is, therefore, deliberately staying away to avoid detection,” the document stated.

The Ministry of Information topped the list with 592 affected officers, followed by Education with 506, and Labour with 440. Other high numbers were recorded in:

Works: 134

Industry and Trade: 196

Health: 158

Environment: 237

Interior: 24

Defence: 28

Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation: 36

The FCSC noted that officers who have already undergone the exercise recently will not be required to appear again. It also stressed that those posted out of their ministries, on secondment, or on study leave must still comply.

This fresh round of verification comes amid heightened efforts by the Federal Government to eliminate ghost workers and fake appointments from the civil service payroll, a persistent problem that has cost the country billions of naira over the years.