Bayelsa Government on Saturday said it has uncovered 5,000 ghost workers in its payroll.
Dr David Ala-Peter, Chief Accountant, office of Special Adviser, Bayelsa Treasury, Account and Revenue, stated this in Yenagoa.
He said 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.
Ala-Peters saidh “We used software of international standard; we used oracle software.
“The method used was very effective. We have established staff data base; we captured both their finger prints, dates of birth and their credentials.
“During the exercise, we verified more than 50,000 staff. Right now, we are operating with little above 45,000 workers.
“Right now in the state, names in the payroll cannot be duplicated as your finger print is unique to you.”
He said the exercise had reduced the state’s wage bill, adding, “but I may not be able to ascertain the correct figure.”
