Rhapsodi Affos Blog RAB Reporter 

Five months after Governor Agbu Kefas publicly assured affected workers in Taraba State that genuine civil servants wrongly affected by the payroll verification exercise would be paid, many of those classified as alleged ghost workers remain without salaries despite repeated screenings, protests, and official assurances.

The prolonged delay continues to generate concern among affected workers across several local government areas, especially in Jalingo, where many of the major protests have taken place.

How the Salary Crisis Began

The crisis began after the state government initiated a payroll verification exercise aimed at sanitizing the civil service and identifying irregularities in salary payments.

Thousands of workers were suspended during the first phase of the exercise, while government maintained that the process was necessary to remove irregular names and correct employment records.

Many of those affected, however, insisted they were genuine staff employed into different ministries, schools, and agencies of government.

November 6 Protest at TY Danjuma House

On 6 November 2025, hundreds of affected workers stormed TY Danjuma House, Government House, Jalingo, in protest over four months of unpaid salaries.

The protest was led by Abdulrauf Sani, chairman of the alleged ghost workers forum, who spoke on behalf of the affected workers and demanded immediate government action.

During the protest, Governor Agbu Kefas addressed the workers directly and admitted that some parts of the verification process lacked integrity.

According to workers present, the governor acknowledged that genuine workers might have been affected and promised that those properly verified would be paid.

He reportedly assured them that payment would begin the following Monday.

Verification and Payment of 1,410 Workers

Following the protest, a fresh verification exercise led by the state verification committee resulted in 1,410 workers being cleared for payment.

At that time, the workers had accumulated four months of salary arrears.

Those cleared were reportedly paid three months first and later fully restored.

This development gave hope to many others still waiting.

Second Screening Extended Beyond Schedule

Workers not captured in the first cleared batch were directed to undergo another screening in November.

Though planned for one week, the exercise stretched to nearly three weeks.

Many workers expected payment before Christmas after completing the process.

That expectation was not met.

Christmas Passed, January Protest Followed

When payment did not come before Christmas, frustration deepened.

A mini protest followed.

By January, another protest took place as workers again demanded explanation over continued delay.

Accountant General and Committee Delays

The unresolved payment has also been linked to ongoing reconciliation between the verification committee and the office of the Accountant General over payroll records.

Workers say repeated verification has produced no final closure for many still outside the payment list.

Nine Months Without Salary

For many affected workers, the unpaid salaries have now stretched close to nine months.

Families continue to face serious hardship, including inability to pay rent, school fees, transport, and medical bills.

One affected worker described the condition as:

“A child with parents, yet living like an orphan.”

Deaths Raise Deeper Concern

The most painful part of the crisis remains the deaths already recorded among affected workers.

At least six to seven persons have now been documented to have died without receiving their withheld salaries.

These deaths continue to fuel concern over the prolonged delay.

The Question Still Remains

Five months after the governor’s promise, affected workers continue asking what exactly is delaying final payment.

If repeated screenings have been completed, many argue that a clear official position should now be communicated.

For many of them, the issue has gone beyond verification — it is now about survival and trust.


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