Taraba Youth Coalition Passes Vote of Confidence on Kefas’ Civil Service Reforms
By Idris Ayuba
Jalingo, January 8, 2025 — The Coalition of Taraba Youths for Reform and Governance (CTYRG) has passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas over the ongoing Civil Service Reform and Staff Verification Exercise in the state.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the coalition said it had closely monitored the verification exercise and found it to be a necessary and transparent response to deep-rooted irregularities in the state’s civil service payroll system.
According to CTYRG, between June 2023 and July 2025, the staff strength of the Taraba State Civil Service rose sharply from about 19,000 to 25,000 workers, with 6,528 names allegedly introduced into the payroll without due executive approval.
The group noted that this anomaly prompted Governor Kefas to order a comprehensive staff verification exercise in November 2024, followed by the inauguration of a Biometric Verification Committee in 2025, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Government House.
The coalition cited the committee’s findings, which showed that out of the 6,528 individuals expected for verification, only 3,183 appeared, while 3,345 failed to do so. It further revealed that 1,049 of those who appeared were not found in the payroll records of any Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA).
CTYRG explained that investigations indicated that the 1,049 individuals were never on the official payroll but had allegedly purchased fake appointment letters from unscrupulous civil servants, describing the development as internal sabotage of the civil service rather than genuine employment.
The coalition commended the outcome of the exercise, noting that it had reduced the state’s monthly wage bill to about ₦3 billion, inclusive of political appointees, thereby restoring fiscal discipline and freeing up resources for development.
“In view of these facts, we fully endorse the work of the Civil Service Verification Committee and pass a vote of confidence on the Dr. Agbu Kefas administration,” the coalition stated.
CTYRG also distanced itself from what it described as sponsored protests aimed at discrediting the reform process and warned against attempts to blackmail members of the verification committee. It advised genuine civil servants with valid grievances to present their documents to the Verification Committee or the Office of the Head of Service for redress.
The group called on the state government to remain resolute in implementing the reforms, stressing that the exercise is repositioning the Taraba State Civil Service for transparency, efficiency, and sustainable development.
The statement was signed by Comr Manri Joshua on behalf of the Coalition of Taraba Youths for Reform and Governance.