NUT, NULGE back Cross River Govt's move to flush ghost workers from payroll

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) support the Cross River State Government's payroll verification exercise aimed at eliminating over 2,000 suspected ghost workers. NUT chairman Greg Olayi urged the government to address salary access issues for verified teachers and protested unpaid salaries since November. NULGE president Leko Otabe called the exercise necessary but urged stronger collaboration with unions. Commissioner Victor-Felix Idem revealed widespread payroll abuses including invalid BVNs and duplicates, with over 2,000 ghost workers identified.