Delta Govt Denies Ghost Worker Claims, Vows To Tackle Salary Fraud

Delta State’s Head of Service, Reginald Bayoko, has rejected media reports claiming ghost workers are a major issue in the state’s Civil Service.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Asaba, Bayoko said the majority of state employees who travel abroad for training return to their posts, and only a small number of individuals have been found to be absent without leave.

Bayoko noted that while some cases of absenteeism had garnered substantial media attention, he stressed that these were isolated incidents and not a widespread problem. He assured that under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s leadership, the state government enforces a strict “zero tolerance” policy on both salary fraud and absenteeism.

The HOS warned that employees caught fraudulently claiming salaries without performing their duties, including those who remain overseas after official training, would face strict penalties, including dismissal. He also revealed that the state had introduced measures to stop payments to workers no longer in service and is conducting thorough audits of staff records across government ministries, departments, and parastatals.

Bayoko also addressed the recent transition to the new national minimum wage, stating that the process had been smooth despite the state managing a workforce of over 48,000 employees. However, he clarified that retirees under the state’s contributory pension scheme would not benefit from the new wage increase.

Bayoko called for vigilance from both government workers and the public, urging continued support for the Oborevwori administration’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the state’s public service.