Governor Gaidam

The Yobe Government on Thursday projected that it would save over N2 billion at the end of the on-going local government staff verification exercise in the state.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, made the projection while fielding questions from newsmen in Damaturu.

He said that the state had so far saved N169 million in one month from seven local councils and expected the sum to rise to N250 million at the end of the exercise in the councils.

Gaidam said over N2 billion would be saved annually by weeding out ghost workers on the payroll of the 17 local councils in the state.

The governor said he had personally purchased an appointment letter from a senior local government staff to prove that employment letters were actually sold in the councils.

He vowed to prosecute government officials involved in the ghost worker syndrome in the councils.

“It is unfortunate that the situation has been like that for 10 years to 15 years; we have to start somewhere to put a stop to the ugly trend.

“We will prosecute and send the perpetrators to prison to serve as a lesson to others,’’ Gaidam said.

The government embarked on staff verification exercise, starting with seven local government areas, to get rid of ghost workers on government payroll.