The Gombe State government has uncovered 523 ghost workers following the implementation of a biometric verification register for civil servants in the state. Governor Inuwa Yahaya made this announcement on Thursday during the induction of newly recruited biometric supervisors, with his Deputy, Manassah Jatau, representing him.
The governor revealed that the biometric verification, initiated three years ago, has unveiled fictitious workers, leading to savings of approximately N1.5 billion for the state.
Utilizing 4,000 biometric machines for attendance registration across all sectors, the state was able to detect these ghost workers.
Governor Inuwa emphasized that “So far this novel initiative has saved the government a monthly sum of N23,758,858 since 2021”.
He also highlighted the endorsement and support received from international organizations like the World Bank and development partners such as the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI), who see it as a replicable model.
The governor noted that the existence of ghost workers has impeded social and economic development projects in the state. Muhammad Magaji, the Commissioner for Finance, added that the state accrued four million dollars through its fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainability (SFTAS) program, marking a significant investment towards improving the welfare of the populace. Magaji emphasized that the funds saved from detecting ghost workers are being redirected to clear promotion arrears and outstanding gratuities.
He reiterated that the government’s objective is not to reduce expenditure but to streamline the payroll system for enhanced efficiency.
Gombe State is now recognized as one of the leading states in payroll management, having recruited approximately 305 youths as part of the financial management reforms. Magaji urged the supervisors to uphold professionalism, cautioning against laziness and corrupt practices, and warned of replacement for any supervisor found engaging in such misconduct.
