Ololade Adeyanju/
Oyo State government has commenced the verification of all workers on its payroll.
Apart from eliminating fraud in the payroll, the exercise would also provide government with data to effectively plan its expenditure.
Civil servants, public officials, teachers, local government employees and retirees are to be screened in phases during the exercise, which will be conducted at state secretariat, in Ibadan from tomorrow.
At the flag off ceremony which held today at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s office, the Governor Seyi Makinde was the first to be screened by the consultant, Sally Tibbot Consultant.
Speaking after his screening, Makinde reiterated that the exercise is aimed at ascertaining all persons drawing money from government’s coffers, adding that the exercise was not basically about verification of certificates but for government to curb wastage, plug leakages in its payroll and have valid data for planning purposes.
He also assured the workers that while the screening lasts, no one would be denied his or her salary.
He said: “This screening is not about certificates; this exercise is simply to determine the number of staff and the amount we are paying. The exercise is for all workers in the state: civil servants, public servants, higher institutions’ workers, pensioners, political office holders, anybody drawing their salary from the state government.
“The implementation of the findings is at the end of the exercise. The data will be utilised for planning purposes. Yes we have to negotiate the minimum wage; we have to know the impacts, effects and plan on how to implement the decision.
“People do not have to worry. The people that need to worry are those that are unjustly benefitting from our patrimony.”
Also tweeting about the exercise on his handle, @seyimakinde, the governor wrote: “This afternoon, I flagged off the Oyo State public and civil servants workers’ verification programme. We want to ensure we know everyone employed by the state, and that everyone receiving emoluments from the state’s coffers is entitled to do so.
“The data collected will help us plan for our recurrent expenditure better, and any savings made will enable us to meet other needs for the benefit of our people in Oyo State. I implored the consultants to do a thorough job and treat every worker with dignity as they execute the task.”
Speaking earlier, the Head of Service, Mrs Ololade Agboola assured labour leaders that no civil servant, public servant or pensioner will be treated unfairly during the exercise, noting that the objective is to improve the welfare of workers and add value to the state’s civil and public service.
Also present at the ceremony were Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ibrahim Ahmed and representative of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Olayiwola Yinusa.
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