Benue Govt uncovers 2,500 ghost workers on teachers’, LGs payroll

Gov. Hyacinth Alia said 2500 ghost workers have been uncovered in the first phase of staff verification and payroll audits for teachers and Local Government staff members in the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by Alia’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Tersoo Kula, on Thursday in Makurdi.

”In the first phase of staff verification and payroll audits for Primary and Secondary School Teachers as well as Local government workers,2,500 ghost workers were uncovered.

”The payroll has since been cleaned, and the names of the ghost workers have been removed.

”The government also uncovered phantom schools, double dipping, unlawful employment, salary padding, payments to dead or retired individuals, and unlawful replacements,” the governor said.

He expressed regret over the delay in the payment of salaries to teachers in primary and secondary schools, as well as the Local Government staff.

The governor said the decision to delay the payment of salaries was taken after the government discovered mindless padding of the wage bill and other fraudulent manipulations on their payroll.

He assured workers who have been screened that they will receive their salaries before the end of the week.

”We are not only getting rid of ghost workers and removing the padding associated with payroll fraud. We are putting in measures to ensure the system is protected going forward,” he said.