The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, says he saved N150 million after cleaning up payroll fraud through a biometric verification exercise in 2021. He said the move targeted ghost workers and a bloated wage bill within the council.
Speaking on HardFacts on Nigeria Info FM, Lloyd said he met more than 1,600 names on the council’s nominal roll when he assumed office. He said one of the names belonged to a man in his community who had died about ten years earlier, but was still listed as an active staff member.
He said he deliberately left the deceased man’s name on the list during the verification exercise to see if anyone would present themselves. When no one showed up, he confirmed the man was dead. Lloyd said he became concerned about who had been collecting the salary attached to the name. Lloyd stressed that as chairman, he has the authority to clean up the nominal roll but not to sack legitimate workers, adding that the exercise uncovered cases of staff who also work as lecturers at the Rivers State University while drawing salaries from Emohua Local Government Area.
He said the N150 million saved from the payroll reform was invested in the construction of five roads in the community. Lloyd added that his goal is to restore discipline in the council and protect the dignity of genuine workers.
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