In a move that has brought widespread relief, Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has authorized the reissuance of appointment letters to more than 3,000 public servants who were previously branded as ghost workers and left unpaid for over a year. The decision was announced following a State Executive Council meeting chaired by the governor on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Addressing journalists in Jalingo on Wednesday, the Head of Service, Dr Hamidu Ahmed Kara, confirmed that the affected employees would be reintegrated into the state workforce after enduring months of uncertainty and financial strain. He noted that the step was taken to resolve the hardships caused by an earlier verification exercise that erroneously classified many as ghost workers.
During their time off the payroll, several of these workers reportedly struggled to support their families, pay school fees, and meet daily living expenses. The reinstatement has sparked jubilation across the state, especially among the affected staff and their households, who see it as a significant relief just ahead of the Sallah festivities.
Labor unions and local residents have praised the government, calling the intervention one of the most impactful actions in the state’s public service history in recent times. Beyond the reinstatement, Governor Kefas has also approved a fresh recruitment drive. According to Dr Kara, the governor directed the Office of the Head of Service to collaborate with the Taraba State Civil Service Commission to hire an additional 1,800 workers.
The new recruitment aims to correct federal character imbalances that were allegedly overlooked in prior hiring exercises. Analysts believe that both the reinstatement and the planned recruitment will have positive economic and social effects throughout the state.