To think that all of 20,000 non-existent workers have been receiving salaries amounting to N6 billion in just three months is dumbfounding. But it shows the extent of financial hemorrhage that the country is subjected to by criminals operating clandestinely in various government ministries.Six billion Nigerian Naira = US$39,530,000 in three months.
Multiply by four for an annual estimate of US$158,120,000.
Total U.S. government foreign aid to Nigeria in 2008 = US$200,000,000 (pdf Census.gov).
By tightening up identity management measures in a single government bureaucracy, Nigeria was able to save itself money equivalent to 79% of the sum that the U.S. delivered to Nigeria in aid in 2008.
Besides the financial windfall, there is an increase in citizen confidence in institutions. It's difficult to ascertain which is more valuable.
