FG saves N208billion after ghost workers scam was uncovered in the Civil Service

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala yesterday revealed that the federal government has blocked a N208.7 billion ghost workers scam in government parastatals and agencies.

After a biometric collection exercise carried out to get a proper data of federal civil servants, 62,893 of the workers who were formerly on the payroll of the federal government were found out to be ghost workers.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, the Minister said when the biometric exercise was introduced, most of the civil servants did not show up, an indication that they were ghost workers and after their disengagement, the federal government has been able to save about N208.7 billion usually expended as salaries and benefits on these ghost workers