How Anambra Govt Uncovered Over 300 Ghost Workers on Payroll

Anambra State’s Local Government Service Commission discovered over 300 ghost workers through biometric verification, including 59 deceased employees and 40 retirees. This revelation is part of efforts to clean up the payroll system.

The Anambra State Local Government Service Commission has made a startling discovery of over 300 ghost workers who have been drawing salaries without performing any duties. This revelation, made through a thorough biometric verification process, highlights significant payroll fraud within the state’s local government system.

The Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Vincent Ezeaka, detailed the findings and measures taken to address the issue. Ezeaka, who has faced criticism from local government workers accusing him of undue victimization, explained that his actions were in line with the mandate given by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to sanitize the payroll system.

Biometric Verification Exposes Ghost Workers

Ezeaka outlined the process that led to the discovery. “The governor mandated us to clear the local government system of ghost workers. We implemented a biometric attendance register and used it for five months. After the first three months, we printed out attendance records and found 320 workers across the 21 local governments who had zero attendance—they never clocked in or out.”

The Commission temporarily removed these workers from the payroll, prompting some to challenge the accuracy of the biometric system. “We gave another chance for those who claimed the machine was faulty. Out of the 320, only 110 have proven their employment and been reinstated. To date, 220 have not shown up.”

Physical Audit Confirms More Irregularities

Further investigations revealed even more discrepancies. A physical audit identified workers who had retired, relocated abroad, or found other employment but were still receiving salaries. The audit uncovered:

• 59 deceased employees
• 40 retirees
• 222 unidentified workers, including those who had relocated out of Nigeria or found other jobs

Ezeaka highlighted a case where a retired local government worker was receiving pensions and salaries from both the local government and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Another individual, employed at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, continued to draw a local government salary.

Governor Soludo’s Satisfaction and System Sanitization

Responding to accusations of victimization, Ezeaka stated, “The primary purpose of my appointment is to ensure the satisfaction of my master, Governor Soludo. This exercise is to make the system transparent and efficient, ensuring workers earn their pay legitimately.”

He emphasized the significant savings achieved for the government, not only in current salaries but also in preventing future pension and gratuity payments to ineligible individuals. “Our interest is to sanitize the system, and we will stop at nothing to achieve this objective.”

The Commission has stopped the salaries of all identified ghost workers and continues to monitor the payroll system to prevent future fraud.

Anambra State’s efforts to clean up its payroll system underscore the importance of accountability and transparency in public service, setting a precedent for other states to follow.