Nigeria, Dec. 30 -- The governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has approved the suspension of three directors and five other officials from the state ministry of finance over alleged appointment racketeering.

The state's commissioner for finance, Rabiu Garba, told PREMIUM TIMES late Sunday that after preliminary investigation, the state had uncovered 4,972 ghost workers receiving a salary amounting to N216 million allegedly being aided by the indicted officials.

The official said "we found that one person is receiving three times salary of a medical doctor."

Mr Garba said the officials involved are, Director, Finance Hospital Management Board; Director Salary, State Ministry of Finance; and his deputy including five other official...