Zamfara government Takes Action Against Ghost Workers, Aims for Improved Public Sector Efficiency
The Zamfara State government has expressed concern over the high number of ghost workers in the State Civil Service, particularly within the health and education sectors.
The situation has been described as both alarming and perplexing, as the government struggles to determine the exact number of civil servants in the state. Barrister Ahmad Liman, the State Head of Service (HoS), addressed the media in Gusau, revealing that a verification exercise is currently underway to identify and eliminate ghost workers.
Liman provided an example of the scale of the issue, citing a hospital where 22 health workers were on the payroll, but only two were found to be legitimate after the verification process. The exercise aims to clean up the state’s civil service and is expected to conclude by the end of November 2024. Following the verification completion, a committee will be set up to address salary-related concerns.
The HoS also pointed out that the current administration inherited unresolved issues from the previous government, including the flawed implementation of the 2019 minimum wage of N30,000. Once the verification and salary committees submit their reports, the state government plans to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000 for civil servants. However, Liman emphasized that the government cannot proceed with this adjustment until the actual number of civil servants is determined.
The ongoing verification exercise is seen as a crucial step in addressing inefficiencies within the state’s civil service and ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately. The Zamfara State government remains committed to resolving these issues, intending to streamline its workforce and improve public sector administration.
