Kaduna uncovers 61 ghost workers in Sabon-Gari LG

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El’Rufai 

The committee verifying workers in Sabon-Gari Local Government of Kaduna State has uncovered 61 ghost workers, its Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, said on Tuesday in Zaria.

The chairman, who is the District Head of Basawa, made the disclosure while presenting the committee’s report to the council’s Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim-Usman in Zaria.

Abubakar said that the committee had received 975 names as workers of the council but that only 914 workers appeared for screening. He said that apart from those who refused to appear before the committee, some village heads were found to be working elsewhere, thereby receiving dual salaries.

“This is a gross violation of civil service rules; it is criminal.’’ “We also found that some workers’ certificates were doubtful, while many others on the council’s payroll had retired a long time ago. “Other cases included people that had died long ago but were still being paid salaries,’’ he said.

According to him, the committee also identified some departments and units with redundant workers whose employments needed to be reviewed for necessary action. Receiving the report, the council’s chairman appreciated the committee’s efforts and promised to forward it to a higher authority for necessary action.

Ibrahim-Usman regretted that Sabon-Gari Local Government workers were not up to 0.1 per cent of the council’s population but had always consumed its entire monthly grant. “It is very sad to note that in September and October this year, we had to borrow N7 million and N29 million respectively to balance up to settle salaries. This cannot continue,’’ he said.