Civil servants demand payment in Abuja after being mistakenly classified as ghost workers

Dozens of civil servants under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have appealed to the FCT Civil Service Commission for the immediate disbursement of their April salaries after being erroneously removed from the payroll and labeled as “ghost workers.”

The affected personnel—some of whom serve in essential sectors such as the medical department—were among 230 employees excluded during a recent payroll audit intended to streamline the civil service structure.

In response to the omissions, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and several allied unions staged a warning strike, demanding the prompt resolution of the issue.

While the FCTA has since reinstated many of the affected individuals and processed their April salaries, around 50 staff members remain unpaid. According to officials, the delay is due to “technical hitches” within the payroll system.

Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, addressed the situation last week, acknowledging the error and pledging a quick resolution.

“We were trying to clean up the payroll and in the process, some genuine staff were mistakenly affected,” Ezeh admitted.“I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. The affected salaries will be released between now and Friday.”

However, as of Wednesday, May 14, the unpaid workers say they have yet to receive their salaries or any additional communication from the Commission.

They are urging the authorities to resolve the matter without further delay, warning that ongoing silence could heighten discontent among employees already facing financial pressure.

As at press time, the FCT Civil Service Commission had not issued any new statement regarding the outstanding payments.