The Anambra State Local Government Service Commission has uncovered over 427 ghost workers receiving salaries from the state government without being actual staff members. This was revealed by the Commission's Chairman, Vin Ezeaka, during a press briefing in Awka, the state capital, on Friday, as reported by Punch.
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo
Ezeaka reported that the discovery was made during a staff personnel audit aimed at sanitizing the local government system. Among the ghost workers identified were 59 deceased staff members, 40 retirees still on the payroll, and 11 individuals living abroad who were erroneously listed as active employees.
He said, “The discovery was made during a staff personnel audit launched to sanitise the local government system in the state. In the process, a startling revelation of over 427 workers were discovered to have been on the local government payroll without being staffed.
“Out of the 427 ghost workers uncovered, 59 were staff of the commission who had died a long time ago, 40 others had retired and are still on the payroll of the commission, while about 11 others are staff living abroad whose names were still on the payroll of government.”
He noted that some of these ghost workers included employees from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe. In addition, the commission found 222 workers whose identities could not be verified within any of the 21 local government areas in the state.
Ezeaka explained that the commission had written to the Joint Account to have these names removed from the payroll. Some individuals attempted to voluntarily retire after the discovery, but their requests were denied due to their fraudulent actions.
The audit also uncovered a certificate racketeering cartel within the local government system. A screening committee was established to investigate suspicious certificates, resulting in the identification of several employees with fake credentials. Specifically, six out of 14 certificates purportedly issued by Imo State University were found to be fraudulent.
Ezeaka emphasized that the commission's actions were in line with the mandate given by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to ensure that genuine workers receive due compensation and that fraudulent individuals are removed from the system. The ongoing verification process was not intended as a witch-hunt but as a necessary measure to maintain integrity within the local government.
The chairman added that even senior local government staff, including deputy directors and treasurers, had been dismissed for using fake certificates. Those working with forged credentials were given a grace period to report themselves voluntarily or face termination once the amnesty period ends.