Some civil servants in Ekiti State, who have done the verification ordered by Governor Ayo Fayose, said they have not been paid.
The workers, many of whom were subjected to harrowing long hours on queues at designated venues of the verification, complained that their hopes of early pay after they had undergone the exercise had been dashed.
A civil servant, who pleaded for anonymity, said the government’s failure to pay them immediately after the verification had further demoralised them.
But Fayose explained that the verification was to fish out ghost workers.
He spoke at the inauguration of suggestion boxes at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said many of these ghost workers had either died, retired from the service or travelled out of the country.
“Is it not interesting to hear that names of some students are on the payroll of the government? I am appealing to the workers to support the government to expose these cheats.”
On the insecurity in the state, the governor said: “I did not lay kidnapping on the doorsteps of anybody or party because I don’t want to be distracted in the effort we are making to arrest the situation and rescue the victims.
“Everybody must join hands with the government to fight these criminals.
“I am to secure lives and properties of Ekiti people who elected me as their governor.
“No matter what anybody says or interpretation is given to our actions, I will not be distracted.”