{
  "id": 3175324,
  "title": "The Menace Of Fake Agencies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/the-menace-of-fake-agencies",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T03:01:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/25/the-menace-of-fake-agencies/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fake agencies, fraudulent organizations, and dubious entities have long plagued Nigeria's public sector. The issue stemmed from poor record-keeping systems that allowed unscrupulous officials to insert fictitious names into employee lists. With the proliferation of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and the lack of computerization and centralized data, the problem worsened, leading to ghost workers collecting salaries they never earned. The crisis escalated when it was discovered that ghost workers numbered as many as living personnel, siphoning billions from government coffers. Efforts to address the issue began in the late 20th century, with the introduction of centralized payroll systems and biometric identification in 2010. However, recent revelations have unveiled a new twist in the saga. The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, announced the discovery of another fake federal agency, the \"National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office,\" allegedly promoted by Prince George Buchi Nwabueze. The agency reportedly operates under four different names, and the ICPC Chairman made the announcement without proper authority, leading to criticism of his actions. Prince Nwabueze has responded on social media, claiming the agency has been in existence for 16 years and has a network of 20 assistant coordinators across the country.",
  "summary": "REUBEN ABATI Ghosts. Fake, Fraudulent, Dubious Things are not new in Nigeria. The crisis of transparency in Nigeria’s public sector payroll system began, for example, as far back as the",
  "key_points": [
    "Fake agencies plagued Nigeria's public sector due to poor record-keeping.",
    "Ghost workers, numbering as many as living personnel, siphoned billions.",
    "ICPC Chairman announced a new fake federal agency without proper authority."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}