FG uncovers over 43,000 ghost workers

The Federal Government says it has uncovered more than 43,000 ghost ‎workers during the on going verification and biometric exercise aimed at ascertaining those genuinely on its payroll.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, disclosed on Friday, when she paid a scheduled visit to Sagamu Police Area command, Sagamu, one of the centres where policemen and civilian staff, did their biometric capturing.

The exercise was organised by the office of the Accountant-General of the federation in collaboration with the Police Service Commission and Nigeria Police Force.

Adeosun, who said the exercise was aimed at identifying the actual number of those workers who are on FG’s payroll, uncovering ghost workers and others earning salaries fraudulently, said since the exercise began the government has saved over N4.5bn  monthly from wage bill.

sHe said, “As for the exact number of ghost workers discovered, I will say the figure keeps changing, because everyday we keep cleaning up the payroll and this has been going on for a long time.

“But so far it seems it is ab‎out 43,000 and it keeps on increasing and we will continue until we have removed all, because every time we remove those who shouldn’t be there, it create rooms to employ those who are ready to work and create money to spend on things the country need.

“So far we have reduced what we pay monthly by N4.5b‎n and it has been increasing everyday because everyday those that are not supposed to be on the payroll are being removed.

“We would keep on until we are sure that everybody receiving salary from the federal government is valid and the only way we can do that is to pay salaries directly into their accounts and we can also verify by using BVN to ensure that no multiple payment and that the people are alive. I think is a very good thing.”