JAPA: Delta Uncovers 200 Absentee Health Workers on Payroll, Vows to Recovery Salaries

The Delta State Government has made a shocking discovery, uncovering over 200 health workers who have emigrated abroad but remain on the government’s payroll.

This revelation came to light after a staff audit of health institutions, prompted by numerous complaints.

According to Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, the affected workers include doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and pharmacists, among others, who have abandoned their duty posts to seek greener pastures abroad. However, they continue to receive salaries through collusion with unscrupulous individuals.

The Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, tops the list of offending institutions. Following a thorough audit, the ghost workers’ names have been deleted from the government payroll.

Determined to recover the illegally collected salaries, the commissioner vowed to initiate a process to retrieve the funds.

He emphasized that this issue is not unique to Delta State, but the government is committed to taking decisive action.

The commissioner lamented the significant human resource challenges in the health sector, with many employed health workers leaving the country shortly after receiving employment letters.

He stressed that this trend cannot be tolerated, and those caught will face severe sanctions, including refunding the illegally collected salaries.