A Public Official Who Quit Job Receives Salary Abroad
So-Called 'Yureong Laborer'... Headache Over Budget Waste
The Nigerian government is struggling with corruption involving some former public officials. In particular, a scandal is expected to grow after it was revealed that former officials who had left their jobs were still receiving salaries from abroad.
On the 30th of last month (local time), the British BBC reported that Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, issued a special crackdown order on former public officials. This order stemmed from the recently widely publicized case of former Nigerian public official Sabitu Adams (a pseudonym).
Adams was a junior public official working for a Nigerian government agency. He quit his job in 2022 and moved to the United Kingdom, where he works as a taxi driver. However, it was recently revealed that he was still receiving a salary from the Nigerian government.
The salary Adams received as a public official in Nigeria was 150,000 Naira (approximately 80 pounds or 140,000 KRW). Since he earns much more working as a taxi driver in the UK, losing 80 pounds a month does not significantly affect his income.
For this reason, Adams told the BBC, "When I heard the order to crack down on salaries for former public officials, I smiled," adding, "I earn much more working as a taxi driver, so I am not very worried."
While 80 pounds is not a large amount for a taxi driver in the UK, it is a considerable burden for the Nigerian government, which operates on taxpayers' money. When the BBC asked Adams why he did not clearly disclose his resignation before leaving Nigeria, Adams drew a line, saying, "It was not a choice made with the intention of returning to public service."
He added, "I had an agreement with my public official superior. The superior simply let me leave."
According to the BBC, about 3.6 million Nigerians have emigrated abroad over the past two years. Especially after President Tinubu took office, the value of the Naira plummeted, lengthening the migration wave. Young people, in particular, tend to seek jobs overseas in search of a better life, a phenomenon locally called "japa" (meaning escape in the regional language).
The problem is that as more people abandon their existing jobs and "escape" the country, so-called "ghost jobs" have surged. This refers to situations where salaries are still paid to workers who have already quit and left.
As cases like Adams' continue to surface, President Tinubu has promised since his inauguration in May last year to eradicate these "ghost jobs." In January, he also ordered a 60% reduction in the number of government ministry officials and official attendants at national and international events.
However, the BBC pointed out, "The president has not specifically mentioned what measures are being taken to actually crack down on ghost workers." The media also criticized that contrary to promises to reduce wasted government budgets, President Tinubu continues to lead a lavish lifestyle. In fact, President Tinubu recently allocated a budget for purchasing a new private jet worth millions of dollars, and the cost of constructing a new official residence alone amounts to 11 million pounds (approximately 19.2 billion KRW).
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