Bauchi probes 100 ghost health workers, vows sanctions

The Bauchi State Government has uncovered more than 100 ghost workers in its health sector and vowed to sanction those responsible in line with civil service rules.

Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Sambo Alkali, disclosed this while briefing reporters in Bauchi yesterday.

According to him, the names of the ghost workers have been compiled and would soon be forwarded to Governor Bala Mohammed for appropriate disciplinary action.

“We are currently carrying out a verification exercise to fish out ghost workers. In our recent checks across five facilities, we discovered over 100 ghost health workers. Their names will be submitted to the governor for necessary action,” Alkali said.

He explained that the state has also introduced a new scheme approved by the governor to address the shortage of doctors.

“Through the scheme, more than 40 doctors, ranging from consultants to medical officers, have been engaged and strategically deployed across facilities. The governor has directed us to carry out a gap analysis to improve service delivery,” he added.

Alkali said the government was also working on a healthcare scheme of service that would harmonise state workers’ salaries with federal health workers. According to him, the plan is almost completed and will be submitted for implementation soon.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muhammed Dambam, also announced that the state is partnering relevant agencies to establish a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) programme to tackle child malnutrition.

He added that Governor Mohammed has pledged to recapitalise the state’s drugs and medical consumables agency with ₦250 million this year, as was done in 2024.