By Rhapsodi Affos Blog RAB Reporter 

Taraba State’s payroll verification crisis has taken a more complicated turn following a strong rebuttal from the Office of the Accountant-General (AG), which disputes several claims made by the Payroll Verification Committee in its report to Governor Agbu Kefas.

This comes at a time when civil servants have gone four months without salaries and recently staged protests demanding payment. Governor Kefas assured them that those cleared would be paid, while the remaining workers would undergo a fresh screening from Monday to Friday.

However, conflicting figures, contradicting narratives, and the non-release of any official list of cleared workers have left thousands confused about their status.

AG Challenges Committee’s Numbers and Processes

The AG’s memo describes portions of the Committee’s report as “inaccurate” and “misleading,” raising several major points of disagreement:

1. Number of workers affected

While the Committee suggested about 7,800 flagged names, the AG maintains that the actual number of unpaid staff is 4,049 (or 4,209 in the Committee’s earlier figures).

2. The controversial “1,410 cleared workers”

The Committee claimed 1,410 workers were cleared but unpaid.
The AG counters this, stating payment was halted because the Governor directed the Auditor-General to harmonize all lists first. According to the AG’s breakdown:

  • 643 were already paid

  • 42 are on the pension payroll

  • 7 are deceased

  • 53 not found in the current payroll

  • 123 flagged for deletion/stop

  • Only 508 names remain valid and unpaid

3. Ghost worker allegations

The Committee reported 7,357 suspicious names.
The AG insists the figure is false, noting that many of the names came from approved recruitments across MDAs, including the House of Assembly Service Commission, BIR, State Polytechnic, health agencies, and ministries.

4. Alleged doctoring of payroll files

A critical allegation from the AG is that in July 2025, 21 officers were overpaid by more than N20 million, allegedly due to a doctored electronic payroll file — suggesting possible collusion between the consultant and committee members.

5. Procedural concerns

The AG accuses the Committee of:

  • Including deceased persons and retirees

  • Failing to investigate irregular memos from the Health Services Management Board

  • Clearing more names for the Polytechnic than the 14 approved by the Governor.

Workers Still in the Dark as Screening Begins Monday

Despite the Committee’s claim that 1,410 workers have been cleared, no official list has been released.

Some affected workers told Rhapsodi Affos Blog they are completely unsure of their status:

“We don’t know if we are among the 1,410. No message, no list. How do we know whether to go for the screening on Monday?”

Efforts to obtain the list from committee members and finance officials proved unsuccessful, raising concerns that lack of communication may further delay payments or lead to wrongful omission.

A System Under Strain

The clash between the Verification Committee and the Accountant-General reveals deeper issues in the payroll system, including weak record-keeping, inconsistent verification methods, and possible internal manipulation.

While Governor Kefas has pledged transparency and reform, the conflicting reports now threaten to undermine public trust unless addressed swiftly.


What Must Happen Next

Analysts say the government must immediately:

  • Publish the list of cleared workers (whether 1,410 or the AG’s 508 valid names)

  • Reconcile the figures through an independent audit

  • Investigate the alleged payroll file manipulation

  • Ensure prompt payment for all verified staff

With screening set to begin next week, clarity is urgently needed to restore order and confidence among thousands of anxious civil servants.


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