By Ezekiel Marshal
The Federal Government has disclosed that it will suspend the salaries of federal civil servants who remain unverified by the conclusion of the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA).
This move, set to take effect in March 2026, marks the final stage of a comprehensive effort to sanitize the federal payroll and ensure that only legitimate, active officers receive public funds.
The directive was formalized in an official memorandum issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and signed by the Head of Service, Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
Addressed to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Tunji Olaopa, the memo underscores the administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline and workforce integrity.
The PASGA initiative was inaugurated in 2025 following a mandate from President Bola Tinubu during the maiden International Civil Service Week.
The project was designed as a dual-purpose tool to strengthen the competence of the civil service while simultaneously eliminating the systemic irregularities that have historically plagued the payroll. By integrating a physical personnel audit with an online skills gap assessment, the government aims to create a leaner, more efficient, and highly skilled workforce capable of meeting modern governance demands.
Recognizing that some officers may have missed earlier phases of the exercise, the Head of Service has approved a final two-week mop-up window. This period is strictly designated for officers who have yet to complete the physical verification or the online assessment components of the audit.
The physical verification phase is scheduled to take place from February 16 to February 27, 2026.
Designated venues in Abuja include Atiku Hall, located on the first floor of Block A at the OHCSF, and Afolabi Hall, situated in Block D. The government has made it explicitly clear that this window represents the absolute conclusion of the exercise, with no further extensions to be granted under any circumstances.
Compliance is only considered complete once an officer has successfully navigated both the physical audit and the digital skills evaluation.
The repercussions for failing to meet this deadline are severe and immediate. Any officer who remains unverified at the close of the mop-up window will be classified as non-compliant and removed from the federal payroll starting in March 2026.
Beyond the cessation of salary payments, affected individuals will face administrative disciplinary procedures. In accordance with the Public Service Rules, these procedures may ultimately result in the formal termination of their appointments.
This aggressive stance is part of a broader strategy to eliminate the ghost worker phenomenon that has long drained the nation’s treasury.
Previous investigations have revealed numerous instances where individuals maintained their status on the federal payroll despite having relocated abroad or secured alternative employment without official authorization.
By concluding the PASGA project, the Federal Government intends to halt these financial leakages and ensure that public resources are directed toward a verified and productive workforce.
As the March 2026 deadline approaches, the exercise serves as a critical turning point for accountability within the Nigerian public service.
