Badagry Council Sacks 266 Casual Workers Over Inefficiency, Ghost Working
The Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, has announced the disengagement of 266 casual workers, citing inefficiency and widespread cases of ghost working.
Speaking at a briefing in Badagry on Friday, Hunpe explained that the decision was aimed at making the council’s workforce more efficient and accountable. He said many of the disengaged workers were unproductive, absent from duty, or simply drawing salaries without performing any service.
“These workers were hired by my predecessor, Mr.Olusegun Onilude. Upon review, we discovered bloated staff lists in several departments, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs), without corresponding service delivery,” Hunpe said.
He noted that some PHCs had more than 20 staff members on the payroll but offered little or no healthcare to residents. During an inspection, he recalled finding a gate man who had abandoned his duty post and left his young son in charge.
“Out of 15 PHCs in Badagry, only three operate round the clock, while the others run on limited hours and remain underutilised. This arrangement is unfair to the council and to the people we serve,” he added.
Hunpe stressed that the move was not a blanket dismissal, clarifying that diligent and productive workers could be considered for reabsorption.
“This action is not about tradition or sentiment. It is strictly about productivity,” he maintained.
The affected workers received their disengagement letters on 27 August, ahead of the chairman’s formal announcement on 29 August. The letters, signed by the council’s administrative arm, directed them to hand over all government property in their possession to the Administration and Human Resources Department.
