Abia Saves N220m Monthly from 2,300 Ghost Workers, Pensioners Delisted from Payroll

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

No fewer than 2,300 ghost workers and pensioners have so far been identified in the payroll of Abia State government in the ongoing verification of workers and pensioners.

The discovery was made known yesterday, by the State Accountant General, Mrs. Njum Onyemenam while speaking with journalists after a meeting with the state governor, Mr. Alex Otti.

Otti had ordered the auditing of the state work force and retirees as a condition to clear the mountain of unpaid salaries and pensions left behind by his predecessor,  Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.

According to her, with the identification and delisting of the ghost names on the payroll,  the state government would save over N220 million monthly using the unified payment system

“So far, we have been able to save N220 million from the ongoing verification of workers in the state, local governments and pensioners.

“Not less than 2,300 ghost names have been weeded out of the payrolls, using the unified payment system and we hope to still identify more as we continue with the exercise,” the AG said.

Onyemenam said Otti’s directive last week for the payment of April salary arrears had been carried out while retirees were paid their pensions for June.

She explained that local government workers did not receive June salaries like other workers because their verified payment schedule was not submitted by the officials in charge.

However, she assured the LG workers that their skipped June salaries would be paid within the week.

The Accountant General stated that government would still make more savings as the staff verification exercise has not been completed.