Delta Government did not invite the EFCC to screen civil servants – Head of Service

The Delta State government has denied reports that it invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to screen civil servants.

Delta State Head of Service, Mrs. Mininim Oseji, clarified the matter on Monday during a press briefing in Asaba, where she also announced the activities for the 2026 Civil Service Week celebration, themed “Reforms, Resilience and Results.”

Oseji explained that the government did not invite the anti‑graft agency to conduct the exercise. Instead, the EFCC initiated the screening as part of its nationwide effort to investigate payroll systems and address concerns about ghost workers in the public service.

She said the EFCC formally wrote to the state government requesting access to payroll records and nominal rolls from selected Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“When EFCC delivered the letter requesting that they wanted to screen some MDAs, I forwarded it to His Excellency, the governor, and sought guidance on our response,” Oseji said. “The governor directed that we should cooperate fully because Delta State has nothing to hide, and noted that the state government subsequently approved the request and designated a senior official to coordinate the exercise and facilitate interactions between the EFCC team and the affected MDAs.”

Oseji stressed that the exercise should not be viewed as punitive but rather as a measure aimed at strengthening confidence in the civil service.

She disclosed that her office was among those selected for screening and that she personally participated in the verification exercise despite suggestions that she could be exempted.

“As the number one civil servant in the state, I wanted to lead by example. I provided my letter of first appointment, documents and my most recent appointment letter; the officials were satisfied with the documentation,” Oseji stated.

She added that the Office of the HOS has been receiving regular updates on the screening process and that no complaints or adverse findings have been reported so far.

Speaking on workers’ welfare, Oseji revealed that the government had submitted proposals for an upward review of the workers’ loan scheme and was awaiting approval from the state governor.

She explained that several reforms had been introduced to improve transparency in the loan disbursement process, including the publication of beneficiaries’ names and expected payment dates to ensure fairness and reduce complaints.