Women Societies To Bauchi Govt: Fish Out Ghost Workers

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI – The Bauchi State chapter of the National Council of Women Societies has challenged the State government to as a matter of urgency, take steps that will expose ghost workers in the state in order to stem corruption and other sharp practices militating against efficiency in service.

The NCWS also lamented what it described as the proliferation of ghost workers on the payroll of the state and therefore urged that stringent measures must be taken in order to avoid wasting its lean resources on the ghost workers.

State Chairperson of the society, Mrs Shafa’u Ladan Esq, who stated the position of the Women umbrella organisation at a rally organized in collaboration with the office of the Bauchi State First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed as part of activities marking the 2020 edition of the African anti-corruption day, noted that it is an act of corruption for some civil servants to be collecting multiple salaries when other citizens are jobless, just as the government is crying of lean purse.

Ladan further said; “It is really disheartening and sad to be faced with challenges associated with ghosts’ workers phenomenon. How can someone be collecting multiple salaries at the detriment of so many citizens of the state? Even with the lean resources of government, payroll kept swelling up due to proliferation of ghosts’ workers.

“There are so many qualified citizens of Bauchi State that need to be employed by the state government, but a large chunk of the state’s funds goes into paying these unscrupulous elements in the form of ghost workers. Until this ugly challenge is mitigated, it is not likely that government may lift embargo on employment,” she said.

According to her; “Such campaigns will go a long way in drumming up support for efficiency, transparency and accountability in governance”.

In her own remarks, the chairperson of National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Bauchi State chapter, Mrs. Bulak Afsa assured that Women Journalists in the state will also renew their efforts in carrying out sustained campaigns against corruption through their reportage.

Afsa said; “It is a clarion call that must be answered by all, to ensure a just society that would be the pride of future generations”.