The Zamfara State Government has uncovered 2,363 ghost workers following a comprehensive verification exercise of civil and public servants.

A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed this on Thursday.

According to the statement, Governor Dauda Lawal constituted a committee headed by the state Head of Service in August 2024 to conduct the verification exercise.

The move was aimed at improving the efficiency of the state’s civil service and ensuring the successful implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.

“The verification committee, led by the Zamfara State Head of Service, included the commissioner of finance, the chairman of the Zamfara State Labour Union, the Accountant General, the Auditor General, and the Statistician General as members, and the Executive Secretary of ZITDA as secretary,” the statement reads.

The committee’s findings revealed 2,363 ghost workers on the state payroll, resulting in an estimated monthly wage bill of N193,642,097.19.

Additionally, 1082 workers due for retirement were identified, receiving a combined monthly salary of N80,542,298.26.

“These verification exercises are ongoing efforts to monitor the Zamfara workforce and ensure transparency and accountability in service, especially as the minimum wage payments begin in March of this year,” the statement added.