Jigawa State Uncovers 7,000 Ghost Workers in Payroll Verification Exercise

 

 

The Jigawa State Government has revealed that nearly 7,000 ghost workers were discovered during a recent verification exercise conducted across various state agencies and departments.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Finance, Hannatu Sabo, during a press briefing in Dutse, the state capital, as part of events marking Governor Umar Namadi’s two years in office.

According to Sabo, the individuals classified as ghost workers failed to show up for verification and were consequently removed from the government’s payroll.

“The fake employees were taken off the payroll because they did not appear for the verification exercise,” she explained.

The commissioner emphasized that the exercise was part of the state’s ongoing drive for transparency and accountability in governance.

“This initiative proves the government’s commitment to eliminating fraud and improving workforce efficiency,” she said.

She further noted that the verification success was due to the state’s effort to streamline its workforce and implement proper employment structures.

The cleanup has also opened opportunities for fresh employment under key programs such as J-Health, J-Teach, and J-Agro, which aim to strengthen healthcare, education, and agriculture in the state.

Sabo also highlighted that Jigawa remains one of the few states fully implementing the new salary structure, paying its workers 100% of the agreed amount — making it one of the highest-paying states in Nigeria.