Abia saved N160m eliminating ghost workers

Abia State Government has said at a press briefing that it has saved N160 million from ghost workers following the introduction of biometric staff audit of all public servants in the state.

Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Economic Affairs, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, made the disclosure in Umuahia. He reiterated the resolve of the state not to go back on the policy.

He lamented the endemic corruption in the state’s civil service which he said was characterised with ghost workers and padding of salary.

Oriaku, who regretted that an earlier  attempt by the previous administration to register the biometric data of public servants in the state was sabotaged, vowed that the current administration would stop at nothing in its effort to eradicate the cankerworm.

He said biometric registration of public servants was a lasting strategy to eliminate the menace, adding that the policy would also be extended to pensioners.

Oriaku, who said biometric registration of workers had been going on in the state for the past three weeks, regretted that some workers were still reluctant to the directive.

He warned that government would soon declare anyone who failed to comply with the directive “a ghost worker”.

His said, “It is annoying that some people will be in Abuja, Sokoto and London receiving alert ( salary) at the end of the month. This has to stop. We want to cleanse our data.”

Oriaku further said government was making frantic efforts to clear the backlog of workers’ arrears, adding that out of the 65 ministries, departments and agencies, 62 had been paid their May salaries.

He said the state government had introduced a number of cost-saving measures to remain afloat amidst the dwindling revenue following the decline in oil price.