Sally Tibbot Consulting Limited today announces the findings of its forensic audit on the Osun State payroll system. The audit reveals 8,452 ghost workers and significant financial losses to the state. This discovery highlights ongoing payroll discrepancies that drain public resources.
The firm engaged with the Osun State Government in April 2023. Sally Tibbot signed a contract on May 22, 2023, to verify and validate the payroll. The scope covered civil servants, local government employees, education workers, tertiary institutions, and pensioners. Consultants deployed 125 staff members for physical verification and biometric data capture across the state.
The audit process lasted 12 months. It involved forensic techniques to identify genuine employees. As of January 2023, the payroll listed 37,456 active staff and 17,918 pensioners, with a monthly wage bill of N4.48 billion. After verification, only 29,004 staff and 17,918 pensioners proved legitimate.
This discrepancy means 8,452 workers received salaries without valid records. The verified payroll reduces the monthly bill to N3.34 billion, saving N1.14 billion monthly and N13.72 billion annually. Additionally the audit identified 6,713 ghost retirees.
Sally Tibbot submitted the final report and invoice to Governor Ademola Adeleke on June 27, 2024. The firm presented the findings publicly in Osogbo on July 10, 2024. Despite this, the government fails to implement recommendations. Payments to ghost workers continue, causing further losses.
The firm accuses the government of non-payment of contractual fees. Management faced security threats during the audit. Sally Tibbot rejects the government's re-verification claims as false and baseless. The contract does not allow post-submission changes.
"We demand justice for the people of Osun State," says Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Sally Tibbot Consulting. "The government must implement our report to stop this fraud."
The firm calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate. This action ensures accountability and protects public funds.