The Jigawa State government has uncovered a shocking 6,348 ghost workers during a recent staff verification exercise.
Governor Umar Namadi’s administration has been focused on improving the state’s public sector, and this discovery is a major step in that direction.
The ghost workers were detected during the Statewide Staff Audit Biometric Data Capture and Validation Exercise.
The report, released by the Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports, and Culture, Mr. Sagir Musa, revealed that these 6,348 ghost workers had been costing the state a significant amount of money.
Musa shared that the detection of these fake workers saved the state over N314 million every month.
This discovery is part of a larger effort to reform the state’s public service system and ensure that taxpayer money is used efficiently.
The commissioner also revealed that the State Executive Council (SEC) reviewed the report and made decisions to move forward with further reforms.
One of the council’s key decisions was the establishment of a Continuous Capture Centre (CCC) at the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
This new center will speed up the process of data capture and validation, and it will help finalize the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Management System (IPPMS).
“The exercise resulted in detection of 6,348 ghost workers and significantly saved cost with an average of N314,657,342.06 per month and N3,775,888,809.72 per annum,” Musa said in his statement.
The discovery of these ghost workers is expected to have a major positive impact on the state’s finances.
It also highlights the government’s commitment to rooting out corruption and inefficiency in the public sector.
In addition to addressing ghost workers, the council also approved a contract to repair roads damaged by floods in several local government areas.
The roads affected include the Andaza-Gadewa-Aujara road, Unguwar Mani-Korayel-Rorau, and Tsamiya-Yalwan Damai-Litinin Tudu in Roni, Gwiwa, and Birnin Kudu Local Government Areas.
This move aims to improve transportation and provide better access for the people of Jigawa State.
The SEC also approved N254.8 million for the completion of a project to integrate more communities into the state’s Social Register Data Management Information System.
This is in line with Governor Umar Namadi’s efforts to expand social security coverage to rural communities that were previously excluded.
Musa emphasized that this was a key part of the administration’s drive to lift more people out of poverty.
Furthermore, the State Executive Council endorsed the implementation of recommendations from a committee tasked with retrieving misallocated farmlands.
The committee’s plan aims to promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state.
The committee’s recommendations are seen as crucial for maintaining stability and resolving longstanding conflicts between these two groups.
Governor Namadi’s leadership has been focused on ensuring that the state’s resources are properly managed and that no one is left behind.
By uncovering these ghost workers, the state has made a bold statement about its commitment to transparency and good governance.
This discovery sends a strong message that the Jigawa State government is determined to clean up its payroll system and prevent the misuse of public funds.
The state government’s actions show that it is serious about addressing corruption and ensuring that public funds are used for the benefit of the people.
The discovery of ghost workers in Jigawa State serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government.
