Zamfara Uncovers 2,363 Ghost Workers, Saves N200m Monthly
The Zamfara State Government has uncovered 2,363 ghost workers who were collectively receiving a total of N193,642,097.19 monthly following a verification of civil and public servants in the state.
Governor Dauda Lawal had established a committee, headed by the Head of Service, in August last year to verify the state’s workforce and implement the N70,000 minimum wage. The verification revealed a number of discrepancies within the state’s civil service.
Spokesman for the Governor, Sulaiman Idris, revealed that the final report of the committee highlighted several issues, including 220 minors receiving monthly pay as civil servants. Additionally, the report pointed out that there were 27,109 permanent workers who were cleared, but it also flagged other categories of workers with questionable employment status.
The findings included:
- 2,363 ghost workers, who together received N193,642,097.19 monthly.
- 1,082 civil servants who were due for retirement, earning N80,542,298.26 monthly.
- 395 contract staff, 261 workers not on the nominal roll, 213 workers on study leave, and 67 workers on secondment.
- 75 workers whose first appointment dates did not match the dates issued and who were minors at the time of their hiring.
The committee also flagged 207 workers for suspension, with a combined monthly salary of N16,370,645.90. Additionally, 12 workers were found on the payroll but were not in the database, receiving a total of N726,594 monthly.
Idris emphasized that the ongoing verification efforts aim to enhance transparency and accountability within the state’s civil service, particularly as the minimum wage payments begin in March of this year. The process is expected to continue monitoring Zamfara’s workforce to ensure accurate records and eliminate inefficiencies.
