From Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
The Taraba State Government has concluded plans to recruit over 4,000 personnel into the state civil service as part of efforts to permanently address the issue of ghost workers in the workforce.
The State Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Barr. Zainabu Usman Jalingo, disclosed this during a press briefing with journalists on Thursday.
The Commissioner, who was accompanied at the briefing by the State Head of Civil Service, Dr. Ahmed Hamidu Kara, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comr. Peter Jediel, representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and members of the screening committee, stated that the government was determined to end the issue of ghost workers once and for all.
According to Hon. Zainabu, the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas has approved the employment of over 3,000 workers who appeared before the screening committee for thorough verification.
She further disclosed that the state government had also approved the recruitment of an additional 1,500 fresh civil servants, bringing the total number of prospective employees to 4,687.
She explained that the recruitment process would be completed once all necessary formalities were concluded.
Barr. Zainabu Usman also stated that the newly recruited civil servants would be deployed to various ministries after the exercise and commended the state government for prioritising youth employment in the civil service.
Speaking separately during the briefing, the Head of Civil Service, Dr. Ahmed Hamidu Kara, said the affected workers would be reintegrated into the state civil service after 11 months of uncertainty.
While applauding Gov. Kefas for his magnanimity, Kara said, the decision was aimed at addressing the challenges faced by workers affected by the verification exercise that classified them as ghost workers.
The Head of Civil Service further disclosed that the development followed the executive council meeting chaired by the governor on Tuesday, May 26.
Dr. Kara also noted that the recruitment exercise was designed to address the alleged imbalance in federal character representation within the state civil service.
He thanked the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, the Accountant General of the state, labour unions, and members of the screening committee for what he described as a job well done.
The Head of Service equally extended appreciation to the affected personnel for their patience over the past 11 months.
