The Zamfara State Government has identified 2,363 ghost workers following a payroll verification exercise initiated last August.
Governor Dauda Lawal formed a high-level committee to audit the state’s workforce ahead of implementing the N70,000 minimum wage. The committee, led by the state’s Head of Service, also discovered that 220 minors were illegally receiving salaries as civil servants.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the verification process cleared 27,109 permanent workers but flagged several irregularities, including:
- 2,363 ghost workers receiving a total of ₦193.6 million monthly.
- 1,082 civil servants who are due for retirement.
- 395 contract staff and 261 employees missing from the nominal roll.
- 213 workers on study leave and 67 workers on secondment.
- 75 workers with appointment dates inconsistent with employment records employed as minors.
The findings aim to improve efficiency in the state’s civil service and ensure financial accountability.
