Finance Ministry disowns fake recruitment fee message, warns Public against scam

By Onu Okorie

Federal Ministry of Finance has disowned a fraudulent message circulating among newly recruited staff, which falsely directs them to pay a non-refundable administrative fee of ₦50,000 as a condition for resumption of duty.

In a statement, the Ministry described the message as the work of scammers seeking to exploit unsuspecting applicants using its name and identity.

The fake message, titled “Administrative Update and Compliance Notice for Newly Recruited Staff,” claims that the Ministry’s Human Resource Management Department directed newly recruited staff to pay the fee before assuming duty. The Ministry stated categorically that no such directive was issued, noting that the message did not originate from any of its offices or officials.

According to the statement, recruitment into the Federal Ministry of Finance is conducted strictly in line with established procedures of the Federal Civil Service, and 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 urged prospective employees and members of the public to disregard the fraudulent message and avoid making any payment or disclosing personal or financial information to those behind the scam.

It also called on anyone who receives the message, or who has information that could help identify the perpetrators, to report the matter to relevant law enforcement agencies, or bring it to the Ministry’s attention through its official communication channels.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, fairness, and integrity in its recruitment processes, the Ministry said it would continue working with relevant authorities to protect the public from fraudulent activities carried out in its name.

It commended members of the public for their vigilance and urged Nigerians to always verify employment-related information about the Federal Ministry of Finance through official government channels before taking any action.