Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, on Thursday, sought the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to end ghost workers syndrome in the state.
Abubakar made this appeal when he hosted some NLC national leaders, who paid him a visit in Bauchi.
He said the government believed that a notable number out of the 106,000 names on the payroll were ghost workers.
The governor described the situation as worrisome and as such, all hands must be on deck to end the menace.
“Bauchi State has a population of about 7.6 million with 20 Local Government Areas and 106,000 civil servants, more than that of other states that are more populous than the state.
“So I am requesting for the support of NLC to end the ghost workers syndrome in the state,’’ Abubakar said.
On the welfare of civil servants, the governor promised that his administration would provide accommodation for the lower cadre of civil servants in the state.
“The present administration has started talking with estate developers that started a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the last administration.
“The last administration did not fulfill its obligation to the PPP arrangement.
“As such, the present administration sought to renegotiate with the developers in order to provide housing for civil servants in the state,’’ he said.
He also said that government would give priority attention to the payment of travel allowance to civil servants on official assignment.
Speaking earlier, the NLC National President, Mr Ayuba Waba, lauded the State Government for settling all the salary arrears of its civil servants.
Waba opined that a timely payment of salaries could contribute positively to the economic development of any state.
“Payment of salaries has great impact on the economy through monetary transactions involving individuals, small and medium enterprises,’’ he said. (NAN)