Gombe State Unearths 523 Ghost Workers Using Biometric Register for Civil Servants.
The Gombe State government has made a significant breakthrough by uncovering 523 ghost workers through the implementation of a biometric verification register for civil servants across the state.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya made this revelation on Thursday during the induction ceremony of newly recruited biometric supervisors in the state. Represented by his Deputy, Manassah Jatau, the governor revealed that the biometric verification initiative, initiated three years ago, has effectively revealed the presence of non-existent workers, resulting in an estimated saving of approximately N1.5 billion for the state.
The implementation involved the deployment of 4,000 biometric machines for attendance registration across all departments, facilitating the identification of ghost workers. Governor Inuwa highlighted that since its inception in 2021, this innovative measure has led to a monthly savings of N23,758,858, receiving accolades and support from international bodies like the World Bank and development partners such as the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI), who recognize it as a replicable model.
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Inuwa emphasized the detrimental impact of ghost workers on social and economic development projects within the state, underscoring the necessity of this initiative.
Muhammad Magaji, the Commissioner for Finance, lauded the state’s achievement in gaining four million dollars through its fiscal transparency, accountability, and sustainability (SFTAS) program, demonstrating a significant investment toward improving public welfare. Magaji highlighted the redirected funds from the discovery of ghost workers, emphasizing their allocation towards clearing promotion arrears and outstanding gratuities.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing efficiency in the payroll system, clarifying that the objective is not to reduce funds but to streamline processes for optimal performance. Gombe State has emerged as a role model for payroll management, with approximately 305 youths employed as part of the dividends of financial management reforms.
Magaji urged the supervisors to uphold professionalism, cautioning against laziness and corrupt practices. He sternly warned that any supervisor found engaging in such misconduct would be promptly replaced, underscoring the administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards malpractice.
