The Zamfara State Government has uncovered 2,363 ghost workers in its payroll system following a comprehensive verification exercise aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the state’s civil and public service.
Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, disclosed this in a statement, revealing that the ghost workers were illegally receiving a total monthly salary of N193,642,097.19. The verification exercise, which began in August 2024, was conducted by a committee led by the state Head of Service. It was initiated to audit the workforce in preparation for the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
The committee’s findings exposed widespread irregularities in the employment records. According to the report submitted to the governor, 27,109 permanent workers were successfully verified, while multiple anomalies were detected, including 1,082 civil servants who were due for retirement but continued to receive salaries, collectively earning N80,542,298.26 monthly.
Further scrutiny revealed 395 contract staff and 261 workers who were not on the nominal roll. Additionally, 213 workers were on study leave, while 67 were on secondment. Shockingly, 220 minors were found to have been employed as civil servants, with 75 of them falsifying their appointment dates to meet employment requirements.
The report also highlighted 12 workers who were drawing salaries but were not found in the database, fraudulently collecting N726,594 monthly. In response to these findings, 207 workers who failed the verification process have been recommended for suspension.
The Zamfara State Government emphasized that the verification exercise is part of ongoing reforms to sanitize the state’s workforce, eliminate payroll fraud, and ensure financial efficiency. The administration reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability as it prepares to commence the new minimum wage payments in March 2025.