Rhapsodi Affos Blog RAB Reporter 

For eight months, thousands of civil servants in Taraba State have lived without the one thing that sustains their families - their salaries. Branded as “alleged ghost workers” after a statewide verification exercise ordered by Governor Agbu Kefas, these workers say they have been pushed into hardship, debt, and despair. What was meant to sanitize the payroll has instead left many legitimate workers trapped in a painful waiting game, raising troubling questions about accountability, fairness, and the fate of those caught in the middle.

The Beginning of the Crisis

The controversy dates back to 2025 when Governor Agbu Kefas raised concerns over the rising wage bill of the state, despite the retirement and death of some civil servants.

In response, the government ordered a biometric verification and data capturing exercise to identify irregularities in the payroll system.

The exercise was coordinated through the Office of the Accountant General, headed by Gaius Danjuma, and supervised by a Staff Verification and Data Capturing Committee chaired by Abdulkadir Haruna Abubakar, with coordination from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Following the exercise, the committee announced that over 7,000 workers were flagged as alleged ghost workers, resulting in the suspension of their salaries. Although some of the affected workers were later paid two months’ salary, thousands remained unpaid as the verification continued.


Institutional Tensions

The situation later grew more complicated as disagreements reportedly emerged between the verification committee and the Office of the Accountant General.

Conflicting interpretations of payroll records slowed the resolution process and left thousands of workers stranded without income.

Protests and Government Assurances

By November 6, 2025, frustration had reached a boiling point. Having gone four months without pay, affected workers staged a protest in Jalingo, demanding immediate payment and clarification of their employment status.

Governor Agbu Kefas personally addressed the protesters and acknowledged that some aspects of the verification process may not have been entirely fair or credible.

He reassured the workers that:

Workers who were properly employed would be paid
Those verified and cleared would receive their outstanding salaries
Those whose records required further checks would undergo additional verification and be paid if found legitimate.

The governor also promised that once the committee submitted its final report, approval for payment would follow immediately.

Partial Clearance, Continued Delay

Following the governor’s directive, about 1,410 workers were reportedly cleared, while others were asked to return for another round of screening to update their data.

The exercise, initially scheduled to last one week, stretched into three weeks. Many workers had hoped the issue would be resolved before Christmas, but their hopes were dashed when salaries were still unpaid. This disappointment triggered another protest in January 2026.


A Growing Human Tragedy

Beyond administrative delays lies a deepening human crisis.

During one of the protests, four people reportedly lost their lives, while several vulnerable groups including pregnant women and nursing mothers joined demonstrations in desperation.

Affected workers say they have exhausted every possible avenue to seek redress:

Social media campaigns
Meetings with political stakeholders
Engagement with traditional and religious leaders
Visits to government offices

In an unusual move reflecting their desperation, some workers reportedly visited the church attended by the governor and sought the intervention of his mother. Yet the promises of payment have continued without tangible results.


Confusion Over the Final Report

At various times, delays in payment were blamed on the verification committee for failing to submit its report.

However, sources familiar with the process now claim that the report has already been submitted and is awaiting approval from Governor Agbu Kefas, raising further questions about the prolonged delay.


The Lingering Question

For civil servants whose livelihoods depend entirely on monthly salaries, eight months without pay is devastating. Families struggle to pay rent, feed their children, and cover basic needs.

While assurances continue to come from government officials, the central question remains unresolved:

When will these workers finally receive their salaries?

Until that question is answered, thousands of civil servants labeled as “alleged ghost workers” in Taraba State remain trapped between hope, frustration, and uncertainty.

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