The Zamfara State Government has identified 2,363 ghost workers following a detailed verification of civil and public servants in the state.
In a statement issued by Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, it was revealed that the audit uncovered significant payroll discrepancies.
According to Idris, these fraudulent entries were siphoning a total of ₦193.6 million every month.
The verification process, launched in August 2024, was spearheaded by a committee led by the state Head of Service.
The initiative aimed to clean up the state’s payroll system ahead of the planned implementation of a ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Findings from the committee’s report, submitted to the governor, confirmed the clearance of 27,109 legitimate workers while exposing multiple employment irregularities.
Among the anomalies were 1,082 workers due for retirement, who continued to draw a combined monthly salary of ₦80.5 million.
Other irregularities included:
395 contract staff and 261 workers absent from the nominal roll
213 workers on study leave and 67 on secondment
220 underage employees, with 75 found to have falsified their employment dates
12 workers receiving salaries despite being absent from the database, collectively earning ₦726,594 monthly
Additionally, 207 workers who failed the verification process have been recommended for suspension.
The Zamfara State Government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that such verification exercises will be continuous, particularly with the minimum wage implementation set for March 2025.