Taraba Payroll Audit Reveals Massive Irregularities
A serious conflict has erupted between the Taraba State Staff Verification Committee and the Office of the Accountant General following the submission of a controversial payroll audit report. Governor Agbu Kefas had praised the document as "exhaustive, transparent and courageous" when it was presented in Jalingo on November 24, 2025.
The verification committee, established to address concerns about inflated salaries and irregular employment in the civil service, revealed that more than 7,000 names were removed from the state payroll during their comprehensive audit. Committee Chairman Alhaji Abdulkadir Haruna disclosed that from approximately 7,800 workers initially flagged for review, only 1,410 successfully passed rigorous screening and should be immediately reinstated with all outstanding payments.
Shocking Financial Discrepancies Uncovered
The investigation uncovered alarming financial irregularities, including cases where some civil servants received overpayments amounting to millions of naira in a single month. According to Haruna, many of the delisted individuals lacked proper employment documentation, including appointment letters, postings, or any verifiable records confirming their government employment.
The committee strongly recommended accelerating payroll automation to prevent future discrepancies and ensure prompt integration of cleared workers into the system. However, the Accountant General's office has vehemently challenged these findings, creating a major standoff between the two government bodies.
Accountant General's Office Fights Back
In a detailed rebuttal, the Accountant General's office disputed the committee's figures, stating that the actual number of unpaid civil servants was 4,209 according to committee records and 4,049 in the state payroll system - significantly lower than the 7,800 claimed by the verification committee.
The office clarified that judges' salaries are paid by the National Judicial Council, not the state government, and challenged the committee's assertion that retired High Court judges remained on the payroll. They demanded that the committee publicly release any questionable names to support their claims.
Regarding the 1,410 cleared workers, the Accountant General's office denied they were being denied payment, explaining that the delay resulted from Governor Kefas's directive for the Auditor General to harmonize the list before final approval. They accused the committee of rushing to submit names for payment before the reconciliation process was complete.
Conflicting Figures and Allegations of Hypocrisy
The Accountant General's office dismissed claims about 7,357 ghost workers, insisting this matter had already been jointly resolved. They noted that several names on the payroll had been approved for employment by the governor across various ministries and agencies.
In a particularly sharp accusation, the office denied that any worker received overpayments exceeding ₦1 million in October 2025. However, they admitted that in July 2025, an overpayment of N20.4 million was detected across 21 officers, suggesting this discrepancy might indicate collusion between the committee and its consultant.
The response further accused the verification committee of "a high level of hypocrisy" and inconsistencies, citing instances where the committee allegedly cleared employees beyond the number approved by the governor, included deceased persons and retirees in its submissions, and failed to properly investigate employment memos from the Health Services Management Board.
According to the Accountant General's breakdown, only 508 unpaid staff had valid claims - far fewer than the 1,410 reported by the committee. As both sides maintain their positions, Taraba State enters a critical phase of payroll reform aimed at restoring order, strengthening accountability, and rebuilding public trust in government employment processes.
