About 268 ghost workers mapped on the payroll of the Kogi State high court have been exposed by a committee constituted for staff verification in the state judiciary.
This was announced by the Chairman, Staff Verification Committee, Justice Mohammed Etsu Umar, on Wednesday while submitting the committee’s report to the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi.
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According to Umar, the malpractice had led to an ‘astronomical’ rise in personnel emoluments, representing a 40 per cent boost in personnel cost.
“After a careful check of the names of newly employed staff from January 2021 to June 2022, the staff disposition list and payroll, it was discovered that some of the names on the payroll could not be found on the staff disposition list of the courts and other departments.
“Therefore, it is an indication that though their names are on the payroll, they do not have duty stations and do not work anywhere in the inspectorate offices,” he said.
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The committee proposed the termination of all “illegal” appointments into the services of the Kogi State judiciary between January 2021 and June 2022.
On his part, the CJ said the assignment would be a never-ending exercise to secure due process and diligence in staff recruitment and administration.
He also pledged the timely implementation of the suggestions of the committee.
