Nigeria, Oct. 31 -- The existence of ghost workers in Bauchi civil service is not only crippling the system but denying thousands of unemployed graduates the opportunity to gain employment, the state governor, Bala Mohammed, has said.

Mr Mohammed, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said his new government inherited an over-bloated workforce "that only exists on paper".

He said though the state battles to foot its monthly salary bills, ranging between N2.5 billion and N5 billion, "the civil service is still, surprisingly, bereft of required manpower".

Speaking on Wednesday, at the swearing-in of the new head of civil service, Abubakar Maaji, the Governor said the top officer must key into the prioritised agenda of his a...