The Benue State Government has uncovered 3,460 ghost workers on the payroll of the 23 local governments in the State.
This was made known by Chairman of the State Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Bem Melladu on Monday when he presented the Commission’s report to Governor Samuel Ortom at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
According to him, out of a total of 18,426 employees, only 14,966 turned up for verification.
He further stated that the verification equally uncovered names of deceased staff on the payroll, salary padding, redundancy as well as falsification of retirement dates among other fraudulent practices at the third tier of government in the state.
Melladu added that the exercise would help reduce the huge wage bill of local governments in the state and make more funds available for projects and recommended prompt action to sanitize the system.
Speaking on the development, Governor Ortom gave assurance that the State Executive Council would deliberate on the Local Government Service Commission’s in its next meeting.
Ortom lamented the decay in the local government system, pointing out that his administration would take proactive measures to plug the leakages and reposition the local governments.
He also commended the courage and commitment of Chairman of the Commission and his team to the assignment.
