Promises, Pain, and Death: Six Alleged Ghost Workers Die as Salary Delay Hits Nine Months in Taraba

Rhapsodi Affos Blog - RAB Reporter

Nine months after their salaries were suspended following a verification exercise, thousands of civil servants in Taraba State still tagged as “alleged ghost workers” remain unpaid, even as the human cost of the prolonged delay continues to rise.

What began as a payroll verification exercise has now turned into a painful crisis marked by hardship, sickness, uncertainty, and death. For many of the affected workers, the burden is no longer just economic  it has become deeply personal and tragic.

Just this evening, one of the affected workers, Mr. Musa Yuguda, a staff member of Taraba State College of Agriculture in Jalingo, reportedly passed away without receiving any of his outstanding salaries.

His death adds to a growing list of affected workers who have died while waiting for payment.

According to colleagues, another affected worker, Mr. Samuel, had died earlier under similar circumstances, bringing the number of reported deaths among the unpaid workers to six.

A Crisis That Refuses to End

The affected workers were among thousands flagged during the biometric verification exercise initiated by Governor Agbu Kefas to address irregularities in the state payroll.

At the beginning of the exercise, over 7,000 workers were identified as alleged ghost workers, leading to the suspension of salaries pending verification.

Although some workers were later partially cleared and some received two months’ payment, thousands remain unpaid, with the delay now stretching into nine months.

Over the months, affected workers have repeatedly received assurances from government officials that payment would be made once verification reports were completed.

Governor Agbu Kefas had during previous engagements assured protesters that genuine workers would be paid and that those properly employed would not be denied their entitlements.

Yet, despite these promises, many workers say they remain trapped in uncertainty.

Their growing concern, according to some of them, is that if government no longer intends to pay them, it should openly communicate its decision.

Many argue that if they are no longer considered workers of the state, government should clearly state so rather than continue giving repeated assurances without action.

Hardship Beyond Words

The nine-month delay has pushed many families into severe hardship.

Affected workers say words can no longer fully describe the level of pain many households are experiencing.

Some have battled illness without access to proper medical care, while others struggle daily with feeding, school fees, rent, and basic survival.

They endured Christmas without salaries , and now, with Easter approaching, many say their hopes continue to fade.

Protests and Desperation

In search of answers, the workers have staged multiple protests in Jalingo.

They have appealed to government officials, stakeholders, and public figures.

Some of them, in desperation, reportedly took steps beyond conventional protest methods, seeking intervention wherever they believed their voices might be heard.

Yet, despite months of advocacy, no final resolution has been announced.

A Question Government Must Answer

As deaths continue to be recorded among the affected workers, concern is growing over how much longer the crisis can continue.

For many observers, the issue is no longer only about payroll verification but about the human consequences of prolonged silence and delayed action.

The central question now remains:

Will these workers be paid, or will government formally declare their fate?

Until a clear answer emerges, thousands of Taraba civil servants tagged as alleged ghost workers remain suspended between hope and uncertainty with each passing month carrying heavier consequences.

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