Bauchi Government uncovers 5000 ghost workers, saved N200 million

Logpobiri Anaiya

Bauchi state government said it has uncovered about five thousand ghost workers in the ongoing civil service verification.

This was just it saved a whooping sum of N200 million which was also said to be going into private and individual pockets.

The state accountant general who doubles as the chairman of the verification committee Alhaji Abubakar Gabi made the stunning revelation on live programme through Globe FM station in Bauchi.

Gabi added that the ghost workers were discovered following the application of Bank verification number BVN in the state payment system.

He said the discovery by the committee inform the decision of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar to direct similar exercise on local government staff and teachers or primary and secondary  schools in the state.

The Accountant General pointed out that the verification exercise was initiated with full support of labour Unions which include NLC, NULGE, TUC and the joint civil service negotiation council and therefore ruled out the possibility of victimising any worker.

In the same vein, Bauchi State chapter of the APC has commended governor Abubakar for conducting staff verification aimed to eschew corruption and sharp practices apparently to get rid of fraudulent government officers.

This was contained in a press statement made available to this medium signed by its publicity secretary Auwal Aliyu Jalla as he said the measure is to save funds siphoned through dubious means.

Jalla lamented that the issue of ghost workers is a brain drain syndrome affecting smooth payment of workers in spite of the harsh economic challenges.

“The APC under the chairmanship of Hon. Uba Ahmed Nana expresses its unreserved support to Governor Abubakar to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in the state as contained in the party’s manifesto” Jalla added.

There is no gain saying that APC is in total support of the verification committee inaugurated by Governor Abubakar to restore economic development which was inherited in a state of catastrophe.

It therefore assured that the state will soon recuperate from the ashes of bad economic development and mediocrity as well as corruption and financial mis-management.