Biometric Verification Reduces Rivers Council Staff Strength From 4000 To 2000

A one-week biometric verification exercise for staff of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State has cut down the number of personnel on the payroll from 4,000 to a little above 2,000.

Dr. Lloyd Chidi, who was recently elected chairman of the council, had vowed to stop payment of salaries to ghost workers so as to enable him embark on capital projects for his people.

The chairman revealed on Tuesday that his administration was able to embark on some critical infrastructural projects across the local government area in the past few months out of the recoveries made from the payroll.

The council boss stated this on day-two of the ongoing biometric verification exercise for staff of the council at Ojims College, Rumuji Town, Emohua LGA.

The exercise started on Monday.

He said, while addressing journalists, that, “The number of ghost workers in the council’s nominal roll who receive salaries from the comfort of their homes and those who came into the council’s payroll through the back door are reasons why previous administrations in the local government area couldn’t embark on projects.

“The days when non-staff of the council received salaries from the common wealth of people are over.”

An aide of the chairman told THE WHISTLER that the exercise had reduced the payroll from 4,000 to a little above 2,000, adding that the number may even be less at the end of the exercise on Friday.

Dr. Lloyd, who supervised the biometric verification exercise himself, with the assistance of auditors from the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission and Principal Officers of the Council, enjoined all genuine staff to present themselves for the exercise.

He stressed that the biometric exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting any person or group of persons.

“It became necessary following the number of criminally masterminded irregularities in the council payroll, which has over the years hindered development in the local government area.

“We expect all genuine staff to present necessary documents to authenticate their employment. Only those cleared through the physical biometrics will be captured in the council payroll,” he stated.

Members of staff who have been screened were issued staff identity cards.