The Federal Government has announced that salaries of unverified workers in the Federal Civil Service will be suspended starting March 2026, following the conclusion of the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) exercise.
A memo obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, signed by Didi Walson-Jack, instructed that officers who have not completed verification and assessment processes must regularise their status within a final two-week window.
The PASGA Project, launched in 2025, was initiated as part of reforms to strengthen efficiency and integrity in the public service.
President Bola Tinubu had directed the exercise during the 2025 International Civil Service Week, emphasizing the need to assign “the right people with the right competencies” to appropriate responsibilities and to identify irregularities on the federal payroll.
According to the memo, the final mop-up for physical verification and online skills assessment will take place from Monday, 16th February to Friday, 27th February 2026 at Atiku Hall and Afolabi Hall in Abuja.
Officers who fail to complete both components of the exercise will be deemed non-compliant.
“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,” the memo stated.
The move aims to address longstanding concerns over payroll irregularities, including instances where civil servants continued to receive salaries while residing abroad, sometimes engaging in employment or academic activities without formal leave or resignation.
Government officials have described such cases as a drain on public finances and a distortion of workforce planning.
The directive underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency within the Federal Civil Service.
