biometric exercise expossed 14,000 ghost workers in Benue LGAs
The biometric exercise indicated that out of 29,600 staffs 14, 000 are said to be ghost workers and majority of the workers are said to be on the local councils payroll were either non-existent or minors below the age of 12.
Solomon Wombo who is said to be the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made the disclosure at a confrence meeting with the council chairmen in Makurdi regretted the level of fraud and blamed the development on the over-bloated wage bill of the state government.
The revelation which is contained in the interim report on the Local Government Salary Automation Exercise carried out by the bureau maintained that only nearly 16, 000 were genuinely employed into the councils.
Further more In the report, Wombo said that some children are below the age of 12 had appeared during the screening just as he wondered how they got employed in the first instance.
Solomon Wombo therefore insisted that a joint committee will be sent out to verify and confirm the authenticity of the report for onward presentation to the governor, while he cautioned the chairmen to resist the temptation to carry out new employment.
The Special Adviser further warned the respective councils boss not to divert money to anybody other than those legally employed especially as their tenures are gradually coming to an end by next month, ordering them however to immediately commence payment of salaries to their staff
