The Adamawa State government has uncovered at least 12,000 alleged ghost workers on its payroll of the 21 local government councils of the state.
A 13-man committee set up by the state government to verify the local government workforce made the finding.
The Committee was set up with a view to creating a database for the effective implementation of the e-payment salary system.
The revelation prompted the Adamawa State Governor, Mohammed Jibrilla, to summon all Heads of Service of the 21 local governments at the chambers of the Government House in Yola.
He also directed them to appear with the current statement of affairs of their accounts.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Abdulrahman Jimeta, other commissioners including that of the Police, the Director of State Security and the Comptroller of Prisons in Adamawa State were also part of the crucial meeting.
Commissioner for Local Government, Mr Aliyu Mustapha, informed the meeting how 19 million Naira was distributed to all the 21 local governments.
The Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ghazalli Mohammed, promised the government officials that perpetrators would be brought to book.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mr Chubado Usman, admitted the lapses noticed and promised to make amends.