Salaries of unverified workers in the Federal Civil Service will be discontinued from March 2026, following the conclusion of the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis.

This was contained in a memo issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday.

The memo, signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, was addressed to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof Tunji Olaopa.

The Federal Government in 2025 commenced the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis, known as the PASGA Project, as part of reforms aimed at strengthening the efficiency and integrity of the public service.

The audit followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu during the 2025 maiden International Civil Service Week.

According to the President, the exercise was intended to ensure that “the right people with the right competencies” are assigned appropriate responsibilities within the civil service. The audit is also designed to identify irregularities on the federal payroll, including unverified personnel.

Although the exercise began in 2025, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service noted that some officers had yet to complete the required verification and assessment processes.

In the memo, Walson-Jack announced a final two-week window for affected officers to regularise their status, after which sanctions would apply.

“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation hereby directs the commencement of the final mop-up and closure of the Personnel Audit (physical verification) and the Skills Gap Assessment (Online Assessment) for all Federal Civil Service servants who are yet to complete either or both components.

“It has become necessary to conclude this exercise decisively in order to strengthen establishment control and ensure that only duly verified and assessed officers remain on the federal payroll.

“Accordingly, a final window of two weeks has been approved for this mop-up exercise, after which the PASGA exercise will be deemed conclusively closed with no further extension.

“The PASGA Physical Verification (Mop-up) shall be held from Monday, 16th February to Friday, 27th February 2026 at two locations in Abuja, namely: Atiku Hall, Block A, 1st Floor, OHCSF; and Afolabi Hall, Block D, 1st Floor,” the memo read.

It added that the exercise was strictly for officers with outstanding cases and shall be treated as the final opportunity to regularise personnel records under the PASGA exercise.

“For the avoidance of doubt, completion of PASGA requires successful completion of both components: Personnel Audit (Physical Verification) and Skills Gap Analysis (Online Assessment).

“All officers who have not completed the Skills Gap Assessment are hereby directed to proceed immediately to complete the assessment within the same final window (not later than 27th February 2026).

“Any officer who fails to complete both the Personnel Audit and the Skills Gap Assessment within the stipulated final window shall be deemed non-compliant with the PASGA exercise.”

In line with the directive, the statement announced that officers who remained non-compliant would have their salaries stopped.

“In line with government policy on payroll integrity and fiscal accountability, salaries of officers who remain non-compliant at the close of the mop-up window shall be stopped with effect from March 2026.

“Furthermore, such officers will be subjected to an administrative process to terminate their appointments in line with the Public Service Rules,” it added.

The directive to suspend the salaries of non-compliant officers is rooted in longstanding concerns about payroll irregularities within the Federal Civil Service, including cases of individuals residing abroad while remaining on the government payroll.

Over the years, successive administrations have uncovered instances in which civil servants relocated overseas for extended periods without formal leave, secondment, or resignation, yet continued to receive monthly salaries.

In some cases, affected officers were found to have secured employment or academic placements abroad while still listed as active staff in federal ministries, departments and agencies.

The government has repeatedly described the situation as a drain on public finances and a distortion of workforce planning. (The PUNCH)

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