By Dauda R PamMaiduguri
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of BORNO state, has expressed deep displeasure over the identification of 21 health workers operating with fake certificate and 91 ghost staff gulping about N23m monthly, as was verified by the committee set up by government to authenticate the qualifications and identities of workers in its health institutions payroll.
Chairman of the committee, Dr. Joseph Jatau, revealed this, while presenting the committee’s report to Governor Zulum at his office annex in Musa Usman secretariat, Monday, MAIDUGURI.
He explained to the governor that, among those found with fake certificates, were some nurses and other medical support staff and that also, 91 ghost workers were faked from the list of health workers in the state, who had either resigned or withdrawn from service, while salaries were being paid in their names.
The committee also, found out that some dead, retired and absconded staff were being consistently promoted with salaries also paid in their names.
Following its findings, the committee has made 13 recommendations that could help reposition the Hospital Management Board (HMB) for optimal healthcare service delivery in the state.
Governor Zulum was visibly worried that some health workers could use fake certificates, despite the risk of handling the health issues of citizens, without prerequisite training and certification.
“Anyone that fakes certificates in nursing and other medical courses is capable of killing people. Only God knows how many people they might have harmed or even killed. Honestly, we shouldn’t let this go, we should ensure appropriate actions to be served to the culprits. I cannot be lenient on matters involving life and death. Importantly also, we have to employ measures to avert future occurrences” Zulum said.
