The Benue State Government says it has discovered 2,500 ghost workers during the screening of primary, and secondary school teachers, including local government staff in the state.
“The first phase of an extensive staff verification and payroll audit for all teachers and local government staff has just been concluded, and it has already uncovered over 2,500 ghost workers that have already been removed from the payroll,” Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said In a statement Tuesday.
He noted that the salaries of workers would be paid following the discovery of ghost workers among them.
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“The decision for the delay in the payment of salaries of the above-mentioned workers was taken after the government discovered mindless padding of the wage bill and other fraudulent manipulations on their payroll.
“Workers who were successfully screened will receive their salaries before the end of this week, noting that government is not only fishing out ghosts workers and removing the padding associated with payroll fraud, but also putting in measures to ensure the systems are protected going forward,” he said
A primary school teacher in Oju local council said he has been waiting to hear such news. The teacher who pleaded anonymity said he would only take the government seriously when he receives his withheld salaries.
