By Akinwale Kasali
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has debunked the claim that the State’s Civil Service is populated by ghost workers.
The Governor dismissed the claim that ghost workers are draining the State Treasury, insisting that the real problem lies with improperly engaged staff.
Governor Kefas disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists on Friday at the EXCO Chambers, TY Danjuma House, Jalingo.
The Governor said the ongoing biometric verification exercise was aimed at sanitising the payroll to ensure only legitimately employed staff are paid.
He said, “I am convinced that there are workers who are not properly employed, but they are not ghosts.
“There are two categories of this: Some names appear on paper, but the people do not exist; others appear and disappear. So, we want to pay those actually working and clear pension liabilities.
“Another issue is that some senior civil servants at the point of exit from the service will employ their children and relatives through the back door. This situation is making it difficult for people who are graduates, but don’t have connections, to get a job, and I am determined to give people equal opportunities because there are so many people who are qualified but have no connections. People must not get jobs through connections.”
He noted that the exercise would stop wastage and free resources for genuine workers and retirees.
“I can’t eat anybody’s money. That is the essence of the verification. We want to ensure things are done properly,” he added.
Speaking on Education in the State, Kefas admitted the State faces daunting challenges due to unreliable data, noting that Taraba has about 3,000 primary and 500 secondary schools with dilapidated facilities.
He, however, pledged to mobilise teachers, parents and government to fix infrastructure, beginning with repairs of roofs, supply of chairs and construction of classrooms.
“My plan is to meet with Headteachers and principals. I will release funds to teachers and mobilise parents and government to repair roofs, supply chairs and begin construction of new classrooms,” he said.
Kefas also charged journalists to act as independent monitors of government projects across the 16 local government areas.
“As journalists, you must organise yourselves as monitoring teams,” he urged. “When we give money for projects, you should monitor execution so that stakeholders, parents, teachers, and government can be held accountable,” he added.
Reacting to criticism of political appointees, Kefas described much of it as perception, but warned against sabotage.
He recalled an incident where a transformer at the Presidential Lodge in Jalingo was allegedly vandalised by workers.
Addressing the issue, the Governor said, “I don’t want to be harsh, but when I investigate and find wrongdoing, people will be held accountable,” he stated.
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