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The Zamfara State government has lamented what it described as the alarming number of ghost workers in the State Civil Service.
The government said the situation has become worrisome and perplexing.
Addressing newsmen in Gusau, the State Head of Service, HoS, Barrister Ahmad Liman said that nobody can exactly say the number of civil servants in the state.
Read Also: Falana: FCT Minister’s Gifts To Judges Unacceptable
He further stated that the ghost workers are mainly in the health and education sectors. According to him, a verification exercise is still ongoing.
“In a particular hospital, there were 22 health workers receiving salaries, but the verification revealed that only two health workers are genuine,” the HoS lamented.
The government official explained that the verification exercise will be concluded at the end of November 2024, after which a committee on salary will be constituted.
The HoS, who is also the Chairman, Steering Committee on Verification Exercise, pointed out that the present administration in the state inherited some unsolved issues from the past government.
“It was discovered that the implementation of the 2019 minimum wage of N30,000 was faulty.
“As soon as the verification and salary committees submit their reports, the state government will implement the new minimum wage of N70,000.
“We cannot implement new minimum wage without knowing the number of civil servants in the state,” the HoS said.
In other news, Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has openly criticized the recent gesture by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who provided housing as gifts to members of the judiciary. Falana condemned this action, raising concerns over its implications for judicial independence.
Last October, the minister flagged off a residential project comprising 40 units for judges in Abuja’s Katampe District. This decision has become a topic of controversy, with critics highlighting ethical concerns and questioning the impact on judicial impartiality.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Falana argued that it is inappropriate for the executive branch to offer gifts to members of the judiciary, particularly judges. He emphasized that such gestures could compromise judicial integrity.
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory operates like a state governor by virtue of the section 299 of the Constitution. So, he cannot say I am going to build 40 houses, 10 shall go to the federal high court, 10 shall go to judges in the FCT high court and 10 shall go to the court of appeal and supreme court, no,” Falana said.
