Protesting Ghost Workers Reject 'Government Refreshments', Demand Months of Unpaid Salaries

Alleged ghost workers in Taraba State on Tuesday staged a third round of protests over months-long unpaid salaries, said to be between six and seven months in arrears, despite their participation in government verification exercises aimed at cleaning up the state payroll.

The peaceful protest began at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Junction in Jalingo, from where the demonstrators marched toward the Governor's Office at the TY Danjuma House.

The protesters, visibly agitated, rejected refreshments offered by government officials, insisting that their demand was for the payment of their outstanding salaries rather than what they described as tokens of goodwill.

As the procession approached the Government House, security operatives moved swiftly to barricade the road, using vehicles to block access and prevent the protesters from reaching the seat of power.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the chairman of the alleged ghost workers, Abdulrahuf Sani, expressed frustration over what he described as unfulfilled assurances by the state government. He said that out of about 5,000 affected workers, only 1,000 had so far received their salaries.

"We are not here to fight anybody. We are only here to claim our rights," Sani said, adding that many of the protesters felt abandoned after complying with multiple verification exercises.

Amid the tension, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Jeji Williams, addressed the crowd, acknowledging the government's efforts to resolve the issue. He attributed the delays to human errors and financial constraints, describing the situation as "fire on the mountain."

Williams said the problem was not limited to Taraba State alone but also involved challenges at the federal level. He disclosed that Governor Agbu Kefas, who was not present during the protest, had been fully briefed and had ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.

"We are doing our best to solve this problem. The governor has been informed and investigations have already commenced. We are gathering data and statistics, and this issue will be sorted out in no time," Williams said.

However, he admitted that the matter was yet to be fully resolved.

"The issue of ghost workers' salary is still a distant reality — I can't lie to you. There are some human errors, but the committee is still in the process," he added.

The assurances failed to calm the protesters, many of whom expressed skepticism over repeated promises without concrete timelines.

At the end of the protest, the group was asked to disperse and await an official statement from the government on when the outstanding salaries would be paid.