A group of individuals recently removed from the Taraba State payroll, popularly referred to as “ghost workers,” have taken to the streets to demand justice. The protesters insist they were wrongly tagged as non-existent employees and unlawfully removed from the state’s salary system. According to them, they are legitimate workers who served the state and deserve reinstatement along with their accumulated unpaid wages.

During the peaceful demonstration, the aggrieved workers held placards and called on the Taraba State Government to conduct a fair verification process. They explained that the sudden removal has caused financial hardship for many families, leaving some protesters struggling to meet daily needs. They appealed to authorities to address their complaints urgently to avoid further suffering.

Several protesters revealed that they had worked for years in various ministries and agencies before being removed in what the government described as a payroll cleanup exercise. They argue that while the state has the right to verify its workforce, genuine staff should not be punished due to administrative errors or hastily executed audits.

The protesters urged Governor Agbu Kefas and relevant agencies to reopen the investigation and restore the names of rightful workers back to the payroll. They also called for immediate payment of the salaries withheld during the verification period. According to them, the delay in addressing the situation has already led to emotional and financial stress.

This protest comes amid ongoing efforts across Nigeria to tackle public payroll fraud. However, the Taraba protesters insist that their fight is not against accountability but for fairness and recognition as real workers who relied on their salaries to survive. They vowed to continue pushing for their rights until their demands are met.