Ghost Workers: Anxiety in Bayelsa

There is growing apprehension among workers at the State and Local Government Councils in Bayelsa State following involvement of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences‎ (ICPC) in the renewed verification exercises to tackle issues of wage Bill fraud and ghost workers in the State.

The growing fear,according to Leadership investigations, showed that the involvement of the ICPC in the ongoing screening exercise may lead to sack, arrest and prosecution .

It was gathered that the involvement of the ICPC was based on the request made by the Governor Seriake Dickson administration to put an end to the hyrad issue of ghost workers and wage bill fraud in the service.

While the ICPC and Bayelsa Government partnership has led to a directive that workers in the State and Local Government Councils to fill a data with their bank verification code to dtermine genuine salary account from fake ones.

Also the  State Advisory Committee on Public Service Reforms headed by a Former Military administrator of old Rivers State and the Amanayabo of Twon-Brass, King Diette-Spiff has directed that all educational qualification used to gain employment into the civil service be submitted and screened.

While most of the concerned workers alleged that it may be another means being adopted by the State Government to sack workers due to the inability to pay salary as when due.

Some Government officials told Leadership that the noticeable apprehension over the screening was provoked by some wage Bill fraudsters in the service and that the screening exercise was not meant to witch hunt any genuine workers of the State.

The State Advisory committee on Public Service Reform however confirmed those found guilty of absenteeism and wage Bill fraud would be sanctioned.

The Committee confirmed the possibility of sanctioning state workers found indicted on alleged charges of Absenteeism and Wage Bill fraud,saying those indicted will be sacked from the State Civil Service.

The Chairman of the State Advisory committee on Public Service Reform and the paramount ruler of Twon-Brass Kingdom, HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff ,who confirmed the proposed sanction during an interactive meeting between members of the State Advisory Committee on Public Service Reforms and relevant stakeholders in Brass Local Council in Twon-Brass,insisted that the ongoing reforms have shown that some workers will be dropped from the Civil Service.

According to Diette-Spiff, “Some workers have to be dropped. We cannot have people that do not work but are receiving salaries. We cannot have people whose names appear in different payment vouchers,”

Spiff, who is also the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers noted that funds made available to the various councils are supposed to be used for developmental projects and not only for salaries.

He also commended the Brass Local Government Chairman, Hon. Bello Bina for hosting his team as the visit the council area to sensitize the people of Brass particularly civil servants on the merits of the “No Work No Pay” policy.

Also Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chairman of the committee, Chief Francis Doukpola and the Secretary, Dr. Felix Tuodolor stated that any civil servant that does not want to work does not deserve his/her pay, stressing that even private companies do not tolerate such indiscipline/conduct.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of Brass Local Government Council, Hon. Bello Bina, commended the State Governor,Hon. Seriake Dickson for the  “No Work No Pay” policy introduced,describing it as a step in the right directionm

According to Bina, the policy  would drastically reduce the number of absentee staff in the council.”

He also maintained that henceforth any staff that flouts the policy will be penalized accordingly.

While speaking on behalf of council workers, the Head of Administration and General Services, Dr. Noel Omubo, averred that the policy is a welcomed development.He assured that all support will be given the Chairman in the implementation of the policy.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Brass Chapter, Comr. ThankGod Singer expressed that any worker that refuses to work will not receive salary.He however urged government to do their part in paying salaries so that workers will be motivated to put in their best.

Credit: Leadership