By Rhapsodi Affos Blog (RAB) Reporter 

The ongoing payroll crisis in Taraba State has sparked confusion, protests, and heated debate across the civil service. At the center of the controversy are two powerful authorities: Accountant General Gaius Danjuma, whose office conducted an earlier verification of civil servants, and a state-appointed Verification Committee led by Haruna Abdulkadir. Both sides present conflicting numbers, claims, and facts — leaving thousands of workers unpaid for months and the public wondering who is telling the truth.

From biometric verification exercises to withheld salaries and alleged ghost workers, this full breakdown traces how the dispute started, the findings of both sides, the government’s response, and the issues that still remain unresolved — giving readers the facts to form their own judgment.

The payroll controversy shaking Taraba State today began long before the protests and accusations. Its roots lie in a major biometric verification exercise intended to sanitize the civil service and eliminate ghost workers.

In 2024, the Accountant General (AG), Mr. Gaius Danjuma, reportedly conducted a biometric screening that identified about 24,000 genuine workers.

But in 2025, a new Verification Committee — set up by the Finance Commissioner and led by Haruna Abdulkadir — released a very different figure: only about 19,000 workers were valid. This meant more than 7,000 people were suddenly declared “ghost workers,” including even long-serving staff. That drastic difference set the stage for the crisis.

The Protest and Rising Tensions

After the Committee’s report, thousands of workers were removed from the payroll and went several months without salary. Civil servants protested at TY Danjuma Government House, insisting they were genuine employees. They submitted a list of 4,029 affected workers to the AG.

Governor Agbu Kefas met them, promising that those verified would be paid and any questionable cases reviewed. The Committee later announced that 1,410 workers had been cleared for payment — but this created even more controversy.


What the Committee Found

The Committee insisted that the payroll had been heavily abused:

  • They claimed 98% of the workers submitted had no files or records.

  • Some MDAs had almost no proper documentation, especially in education and health.

  • They said the real number of unverified workers was around 7,800, not 4,029.

  • They pointed to alleged overpayments, with some staff reportedly receiving unusually high amounts.

  • They accused institutions of hiring far beyond approved limits.

  • They recommended the 1,410 cleared staff be immediately automated into the system.

In short, the Committee believed the payroll was bloated and mismanaged.


How the Accountant General Responded

The AG’s office challenged most of the Committee’s claims and published a detailed counter-report:

  • They argued the true number of unpaid workers was 4,049, not 7,800.

  • The Committee wrongly included judges, whose salaries come from the NJC.

  • Some names listed were retired or deceased individuals.

  • They said the 1,410 cleared workers were not withheld by the AG, but were undergoing harmonization by the Auditor General.

  • Many workers listed as “ghosts” were actually properly hired and approved by the Governor.

  • A N20,399,933.32 overpayment traced to July 2025 was linked to a payroll consultant — suggesting possible manipulation.

  • The Committee also cleared more workers than the Governor approved, raising questions about the credibility of its process.

  • They said the Committee ignored over 1,000 valid files from the Health Services Management Board.

According to the AG, the Committee’s work was rushed, inconsistent, and filled with errors.


The Governor’s Position

Governor Kefas supports sanitizing the payroll but acknowledges that some workers were “wrongly engaged, not ghosts.” He promised verified workers would be paid and others reviewed fairly. Meanwhile, labor unions continue to demand accountability and even the removal of key officials.


So Who Is Right? — A Balanced View

Both sides uncovered real issues:

  • The Committee highlighted irregularities, unauthorized hires, and overpayments but had errors in numbers and included deceased or retired workers.

  • The Accountant General presented a detailed counter-report showing many removed workers are legitimate, while also tracing overpayments and consultant manipulation.

The facts presented by both parties allow readers to assess the credibility, methodology, and implications of each position.


Conclusion

The payroll crisis in Taraba highlights the challenges of balancing reform, transparency, and fairness. On one hand, the Committee has pointed out irregularities, unauthorized hires, and overpayments that suggest a bloated payroll needing urgent attention. On the other hand, the Accountant General presents a carefully documented counter-report, arguing that many removed workers are genuine and that some of the Committee’s claims are inaccurate or exaggerated.

Civil servants continue to suffer delays and confusion, while the government navigates between payroll reform and protecting legitimate employees.

Ultimately, the situation raises important questions about how best to ensure accountability while safeguarding workers’ rights, and the facts available allow readers to form their own judgment about who is more credible in this dispute.