By Jemilu Hassan
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A verification exercise is ongoing to determine the actual number of civil servants in the state.”
The Zamfara State government has decried the alarming number of ghost workers in the state’s civil service, describing the situation as worrisome and perplexing. According to the State Head of Service, Barrister Ahmad Liman, the exact number of civil servants in the state cannot be ascertained due to the prevalence of ghost workers.
Liman revealed that the ghost workers are mainly concentrated in the health and education sectors. He cited an example of a hospital where 22 health workers were receiving salaries, but a verification exercise revealed that only two of them were genuine employees. This shocking discovery highlights the extent of the problem and the need for urgent action.
To address this issue, the state government has embarked on a verification exercise, which is expected to be concluded by the end of November 2024. Upon completion of the exercise, a committee on salary will be constituted to review the payroll and ensure that only legitimate employees are paid.
The present administration in Zamfara State inherited some unresolved issues from the previous government, including the faulty implementation of the 2019 minimum wage of N30,000. The State Head of Service emphasized that the new minimum wage of N70,000 cannot be implemented without first determining the actual number of civil servants in the state.
The Zamfara State government’s efforts to tackle the issue of ghost workers are commendable, and it is hoped that the verification exercise will yield positive results. The state’s civil servants, as well as the general public, eagerly await the outcome of this exercise and the implementation of the new minimum wage.
In addition to addressing the issue of ghost workers, the Zamfara State government should also focus on improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service. This can be achieved through the implementation of reforms, training and capacity building programs, and the adoption of technology to enhance service delivery.
Ultimately, the success of the verification exercise and the implementation of the new minimum wage will depend on the commitment and dedication of the Zamfara State government to tackling the challenges facing the civil service.
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