Taraba To Begin Civil Service Training, Dismisses Ghost Worker Claims
By Hilary John
The Taraba State Government will next week commence a training programme for Secretaries and Staff Officers in the state civil service as part of ongoing reforms to improve service delivery.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with officials held on Tuesday at the Bureau for Local Government, Traditions and Chieftaincy Affairs in Jalingo, Dr. Hamidu Ahmed Kara, the Taraba State Head of Service, said the training, directed by Governor Agbu Kefas, will address identified weaknesses across ministries, departments and agencies to build a more efficient and productive civil service.
He said the government is strengthening file management and document verification, stressing that all certificates presented by civil servants will now be cross-checked.
He added that the state plans to transition from an analogue system to a digital platform, including computer training for senior officers and the introduction of an online staff appraisal system.
On allegations of ghost workers, Dr. Kara insisted that Taraba State has none, explaining that over 3,000 workers were removed from the payroll after failing to appear for a screening exercise that lasted more than a month.
Dr Hamidu Ahmed Kara
“The only issue remaining is workers who were not properly employed,” he said, adding that a report has been submitted to the governor for approval to regularise such cases.
Dr. Kara acknowledged that some genuine civil servants were affected by the screening exercise and had not been paid salaries for several months.
He apologised to the affected workers and assured that arrangements are being made to pay all outstanding arrears once verification is completed.
He commended Governor Kefas for prioritising civil service reforms and urged workers to accept postings across ministries to gain wider experience.
