[Nigeria] Rivers State payroll verification exercise approved

In southern Nigeria, the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a state-wide comprehensive payroll verification exercise to ensure that only legitimate employees receive government salaries, Von reports.

According to the Governor, the verification exercise was designed to eliminate ghost workers, strengthen accountability in the public service and ensure that public funds are used through due process for duly employed workers.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Omademe Internal Roads Project in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Governor Fubara reportedly stated that the issue of 'bloated salary payrolls' at the local government level had existed before he assumed office, and made clear that his administration was determined to address it.

The governor said, “The former Local Government Service Commission had commenced efforts to tackle the problem before the emergency rule in the state.”

The Governor, who served as a Treasury Officer before entering politics, added, “He brought his financial experience to bear on the exercise, with ICT personnel also deployed to support the committee.”

He stated that the committee was expected to conduct the exercise objectively and without political interference.

“It does not matter whether the people are my supporters. It does not matter whether they are people from the other side. Now, there is no other side. We are all Rivers people.

“I am not against you being employed. But the issue is that if you have to be employed, you have to be employed through the proper channel,” he said.

Source: Von

(Quotes via original reporting)

In southern Nigeria, the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a state-wide comprehensive payroll verification exercise to ensure that only legitimate employees receive government salaries, Von reports.

According to the Governor, the verification exercise was designed to eliminate ghost workers, strengthen accountability in the public service and ensure that public funds are used through due process for duly employed workers.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Omademe Internal Roads Project in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Governor Fubara reportedly stated that the issue of 'bloated salary payrolls' at the local government level had existed before he assumed office, and made clear that his administration was determined to address it.

The governor said, “The former Local Government Service Commission had commenced efforts to tackle the problem before the emergency rule in the state.”

The Governor, who served as a Treasury Officer before entering politics, added, “He brought his financial experience to bear on the exercise, with ICT personnel also deployed to support the committee.”

He stated that the committee was expected to conduct the exercise objectively and without political interference.

“It does not matter whether the people are my supporters. It does not matter whether they are people from the other side. Now, there is no other side. We are all Rivers people.

“I am not against you being employed. But the issue is that if you have to be employed, you have to be employed through the proper channel,” he said.

Source: Von

(Quotes via original reporting)