Finance Ministry Raises Alarm Over Fraudulent ₦50,000 Payment Request to New Staff
By Gabriel Kekong
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Federal Ministry of Finance has disowned a fraudulent message being circulated to newly recruited staff, falsely directing them to pay a non-refundable administrative fee of ₦50,000 as a condition for resuming duty.
In a statement signed by the Head, Information and Public Relations Efe Ovuakporie, on Wednesday, the Ministry described the message as the handiwork of fraudsters seeking to exploit unsuspecting applicants by impersonating the Federal Ministry of Finance.
According to the Ministry, the fake message, titled “Administrative Update and Compliance Notice for Newly Recruited Staff,” falsely claims that the Human Resource Management Department directed newly recruited employees to pay an administrative fee before assuming duty.
The Ministry categorically stated that it never issued such a directive, stressing that the message did not originate from any office or official of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
It further clarified that recruitment into the Ministry is conducted strictly in accordance with established Federal Civil Service procedures, emphasizing that at no stage of the recruitment, documentation, or onboarding process are applicants or newly recruited staff required to pay any administrative, processing, or resumption fee.
The Ministry, therefore, advised prospective employees and members of the public to disregard the fraudulent message and refrain from making any payment or disclosing personal or financial information to those behind the scam.
It also urged anyone who receives the message or has information that could help identify those responsible for the fraudulent scheme to report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Such information, it added, may also be forwarded to the Ministry through its official communication channels.
The Federal Ministry of Finance reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness, and integrity in all its recruitment processes and pledged to continue working with relevant authorities to protect members of the public from fraudulent activities carried out in its name.
The Ministry also appreciated the vigilance of members of the public and encouraged Nigerians to verify all information relating to employment opportunities with the Federal Ministry of Finance through official government channels before taking any action.
