Finance Ministry Warns Job Seekers Against ₦50,000 Recruitment Scam, Declares Payment Demand Fake
FG says no applicant or newly recruited staff is required to pay any fee for employment, urges public to report fraudsters
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Ministry of Finance has alerted newly recruited staff and the general public to a fraudulent message demanding a non-refundable ₦50,000 administrative fee as a condition for resuming duty, warning that the purported directive is fake and the handiwork of fraudsters seeking to exploit unsuspecting applicants.
The warning was contained in a press statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Efe Ovuakporie.
The Ministry categorically denied authorising any payment request, stressing that the fraudulent notice, titled “Administrative Update and Compliance Notice for Newly Recruited Staff,” did not originate from any office or official of the Ministry.
According to the Ministry, the fake message falsely claims that the Human Resource Management Department directed newly recruited staff to pay an administrative fee before assuming duty.
The Ministry, however, insisted that no such directive was ever issued and advised recipients to ignore the message.
“The Ministry states categorically that no such directive was issued and that the message did not originate from any office or official of the Federal Ministry of Finance,” the statement said.
The Ministry further explained that recruitment into the Federal Ministry of Finance is conducted strictly in line with the established procedures of the Federal Civil Service and does not require applicants or successful candidates to make any financial payment at any stage.
It emphasised that applicants are never required to pay administrative, processing or resumption fees during recruitment, documentation or onboarding.
“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 stated.
The Ministry urged prospective employees and members of the public to disregard the fraudulent communication and refrain from making payments or releasing personal and financial information to individuals behind the scam.
It also called on anyone who receives the fake message or possesses information that could help identify those responsible to report the matter to relevant law enforcement agencies or notify the Ministry through its official communication channels.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and integrity, the Ministry said it would continue working with relevant authorities to protect Nigerians from fraudulent activities carried out in its name.
The Ministry also advised Nigerians to verify all information relating to employment opportunities through official government communication channels before taking any action.
“The Federal Ministry of Finance remains committed to transparency, fairness and integrity in all its recruitment processes and will continue to work with relevant authorities to protect members of the public from fraudulent activities carried out in its name,” the statement added.
