Taraba State has been rocked by a fake employment scandal after two senior civil servants were suspended for issuing fraudulent appointment letters.
The Head of Service, Mr. Paul Maigida Tino, revealed the shocking development during a press briefing in Jalingo. He explained that the pair, one from the Civil Service Commission and the other from the Accountant General's office, had exploited a recruitment drive by the previous administration to deceive countless jobseekers.
The scam came to light during a routine verification process aimed at identifying genuine civil servants.
“While we were carrying out screaming exercise to authenticate genuine civil servants, we discovered that some newly recruited unemployed youth who were recruited by the previous administration of Governor Darius Ishaku last year were given fake appointment letters", Mr Maigida revealed.
“When we discovered the fake appointment letters, we withdrew them back, and set up a committee which latter exposed the atrocities the two officers committed. They colluded and printed fake appointment letters to good number of unemployed youth".
Tino expressed his dismay at the fraudulent scheme, highlighting that it had preyed on the hopes of unemployed young people. The suspended officers have been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The Head of Service emphasised that the government is committed to rooting out corruption and ensuring fairness in the public service. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in tackling fraud and abuse of power within government.
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