Reporting by The Punch indicates a payroll audit uncovered 8,452 alleged ghost workers in Osun State, raising fresh questions about payroll controls and wage leakages.
The report suggests the finding emerged from a verification process aimed at tightening wage administration in a period of fiscal pressure.
If the clean-up is sustained, it could free funds for public services, though disputes may follow over wrongful deletions and labour politics.
Premium Times also reported the “8,452 ghost workers” figure, while The Guardian similarly described the discovery within a payroll clean-up narrative for the state.
Echotitbits take: The real test is enforcement—publishing an audit trail, recovering funds where possible, and sanctioning those who enabled payroll fraud.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/consultant-uncovers-8452-ghost-workers-in-osun/ January 10, 2026
The Punch 2026-01-10
Photo Credit: The Punch
