The recent workers’ verification exercise carried out by the Bayelsa State Government has enabled it to discover 5,000 ghost workers on its payroll.
Chief Accountant, Office of Special Adviser, Bayelsa Treasury, Account and Revenue, Dr David Ala-Peter, disclosed this on Saturday in Yenagoa.
According to him, the ghost workers were identified in the recent staff verification exercise, where more than 50,000 workers participated.
Ala-Peter said the exercise was aimed at identifying fake names to reduce the state’s wage bill.
He explained that the panel which carried out the exercise used oracle software which facilitated good result.
“The method used was very effective. We have established staff database; we captured both their fingerprints, dates of birth and their credentials.
“During the exercise, we verified more than 50,000 staff but right now, we are operating with little above 45,000 workers.
Ala-peter further disclosed that it is impossible to duplicated names on the State’s payrolls as the workers’ fingerprints have been taken.
“The exercise has reduced the state’s wage bill but I may not be able to ascertain the correct figure,” he stated.
