In a move aimed at enhancing accountability and curbing the proliferation of fake government agencies, the Federal Government has implemented stricter controls on the movement of civil servants across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This directive, issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), mandates that any redeployment of officers from recognized professional pools must receive prior approval from relevant authorities.

The circular, dated August 24, 2026, outlines that officers assigned to MDAs from professional pools are to remain in their designated positions unless a formal review and approval process is followed. This directive comes in the wake of ongoing investigations into the existence of fictitious government bodies that have been operating without official sanction.

President Bola Tinubu's administration is intensifying efforts to address issues related to ghost workers and institutional control failures within the civil service. The OHCSF has noted a concerning trend where some MDAs have been disregarding established protocols by moving officers without the necessary approvals. This practice contradicts a previous circular issued in January 2025, which explicitly prohibited internal redeployment of pool officers without proper authorization.

The recent directive has gained significance as the Federal Government embarks on a comprehensive forensic audit of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and other related government agencies. This audit aims to uncover how unauthorized individuals have been enrolled in government systems and to verify the legitimacy of various federal agencies and their operational frameworks.

The OHCSF's circular emphasizes that only permanent secretaries can deploy or redeploy local staff within their respective MDAs. Officers assigned from the OHCSF or recognized professional pools are subject to stricter regulations, ensuring that their movements are traceable and authorized. However, there is a provision that allows for the internal deployment of officers on Grade Level 07 to 14 to fill vacancies within their respective departments, provided such actions fall within the scope of their professional pools.

This directive follows a series of revelations concerning fraudulent government entities. In July, President Tinubu ordered an investigation into the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, which was found to be non-existent. Subsequent investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) revealed further instances of fictitious agencies, raising alarm over how these entities managed to interact with legitimate government institutions.

As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen the integrity of the civil service, the forensic audit will also examine the interactions between IPPIS and other government platforms, ensuring that only duly constituted entities have access to government resources. The overarching goal is to close systemic loopholes and reinforce accountability within the Federal Government's operational framework.

The OHCSF's latest circular serves as an additional layer of administrative control, reinforcing the need for compliance with established protocols regarding the movement of civil servants. This initiative aims to prevent unauthorized transfers and ensure that all personnel movements are conducted through formal channels, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the civil service against fraudulent practices.