The Ministry of Education has identified 13 officers as ghost employees following a payroll verification exercise.

Education Minister Aseri Radrodro confirmed the findings, which followed recommendations from the Auditor-General’s 2024 report on officers who were no longer employed by the Ministry but continued receiving salaries.

Radrodro said payroll verification is an established process aimed at ensuring employment records remain accurate and public funds are paid only to legitimate employees.

The exercise also resulted in the cessation of salary payments for 134 officers in Pay 18 of 2026 after outstanding permanent appointment documents were identified.

The affected teachers had received permanent appointment contracts in 2025 through FEMIS but had not returned their signed contracts to the Ministry for processing. As a result, their employment information was not properly updated in the system.

The Ministry had previously reminded officers of the requirement to complete and return their employment contracts and had also contacted affected teachers before their salaries were stopped.

The verification also uncovered a case involving a former teacher whose contract expired in January 2025 but who continued receiving salary payments until Pay 18 of 2026. Some teachers were also found not to have renewed their FTRA licences as required.

Radrodro has raised concerns over employment matters being shared publicly on social media, stressing that individual employment issues should be addressed through established Ministry channels.

The Ministry is reminding all officers to complete mandatory employment documentation, maintain valid FTRA licences and comply with the Civil Service Code of Conduct.

BY: JOELI RAGONELIWA