The Federal Government has issued a directive requiring federal civil servants who are on study leave to provide evidence of approval obtained from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. This directive comes from Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, who emphasized the implementation of a new system for routine verification of workers to confirm their actual whereabouts.

In a memorandum circulated to all permanent secretaries in Abuja, Yemi-Esan highlighted the government's concerns regarding civil servants obtaining admission letters from questionable foreign universities while applying for study leave, dating back to August 2021. Additionally, in 2022, measures were taken by the government to address this issue, including requiring such employees to sign bonds to prevent the misuse of study leave privileges.

The memo stressed the importance of physical verification alongside the new measures, stating, "As part of the efforts to sustain the gains of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, it has become imperative to emplace a mechanism for regular physical verification of officers in the service."

To ensure compliance, all ministries are instructed to conduct a physical verification exercise for all staff members, with specific attention to confirming the location of each officer. Those on study leave must present evidence of approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, clearly indicated in the remark column.

The memorandum concludes by directing permanent secretaries to submit a report of the exercise, signed by them, to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service by April 2nd, 2024.