Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli yesterday gave newly appointed regional commissioners tough directives as part of his anti-corruption and cost-cutting drive.
The President gave the RCs 15 days to remove over 2,500 phantom workers from the government’s payroll in entities under their jurisdiction or risk losing their jobs.
“I ask you to see to it that all ghost workers are removed from records. District directors found to be paying ghost workers will be promptly dismissed and taken to court,” Dr Magufuli said at State House after swearing in the 26 regional commissioners he appointed on Sunday.
The President said the tens of billions of shillings used to pay non-existent public workers annually could be used to improve social services.
He added that the government lost about Sh2.5 billion every month in paying 2,597 phantom employees.
“I want this country to forge ahead. The money we will save by getting rid of ghost workers should go towards the people’s development,” he said, and directed ministers and RCs to oversee prudent expenditure of public funds.
