GHOST WORKERS: NUMBER OF CIVIL SERVANTS IS UNKNOWN TO US

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The governor of Zamfara State has expressed regret over the startling number of “ghost workers” in the State Civil Service.

According to the authorities, the situation has grown confusing and worrying.

The State Head of Service, HoS, Barrister Ahmad Liman, told reporters in Gusau that it is impossible to pinpoint the precise number of civil personnel in the state.

He added that the health and education sectors employ the majority of ghost workers. A verification exercise is still going on, he said.

“In a particular hospital, there were 22 health workers receiving salaries, but the verification revealed that only two health workers are genuine,” the HoS lamented.

After the verification process is completed by the end of November 2024, a committee on salaries will be established, the government official clarified.

As the Chairman of the Steering Committee on Verification Exercise, the House of Representatives noted that the current state administration inherited several unresolved concerns from the previous administration.

“It was discovered that the implementation of the 2019 minimum wage of N30,000 was faulty.

“As soon as the verification and salary committees submit their reports, the state government will implement the new minimum wage of N70,000.

“We cannot implement new minimum wage without knowing the number of civil servants in the state,” the HoS said.