The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has revealed that some top officials of the Civil Service have been dismissed by the Federal Government for extorting money from 400 job applicants and offering them employment illegally.
During a meeting with some selected On-Air-Personalities in Lagos, Mohammed explained that the officials who were on Grade Level 17 in one of the parastatals in the ministry collected the sum of N400,000 from each applicant.
He said “The first scandal I met in one of the parastatals when I assumed office was the illegal employment of 400 people.
“This scandal started with very senior officers up to level 17 in that department. They sent out letters and text messages asking people to apply for jobs for a fee of N400, 000 and they were given letters of employment.
“They did not stop there. They invited these people to go and be captured on the IPPIS and they even took cameras to hotels to get them captured. At the end of the day the bubble burst.
“One of the victims told these officials, you cannot take my money and still disengage me. I have a valid letter.
“That is how we got to know that there is a dedicated account these people pay to. Of course, we dismissed these officials and we even handed them over to the Police.”
The minister who described On-Air Personalities as “very important’’ in the media industry, urged them to use their platforms to educate the people on government`s policies.