The Gombe State government has announced the discovery of 523 ghost workers following the implementation of a biometric verification register for civil servants in the state.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed this on Thursday during the induction of newly recruited biometric supervisors in the state.
Represented by his Deputy, Manassah Jatau, the governor stated that the biometric verification, which commenced three years ago, has exposed non-existent workers and saved the state approximately N1.5 billion.
He said the state deployed 4,000 biometric machines for attendance registration across all areas, facilitating the discovery of ghost workers.
“So far this novel initiative has saved the government a monthly sum of N23,758,858 since 2021,” the governor stated, adding that it has garnered recognition and support from international organizations such as the World Bank and development partners like the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI), which view it as a model to be emulated.
Inuwa stated that the presence of ghost workers has negatively impacted social and economic development projects in the state.
Muhammad Magaji, the Commissioner for Finance, noted that the state gained four million dollars through its fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainability (SFTAS) program, marking a significant investment for the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of the people.
Magaji emphasized that the funds saved from the discovery of ghost workers are redirected to payment of promotion arrears and outstanding gratuities.
He reassured that the government’s aim is not to reduce funds but to streamline the payroll system for efficiency.
He said that Gombe State is now recognized as one of the best states in terms of payroll management, with approximately 305 youths recruited as part of the gains of the financial management reforms.
Magaji urged the supervisors to maintain professionalism, warning against indolence and corrupt practices, stating that any supervisor caught engaging in such activities would be replaced.
