Benue State Governor Discloses Saving N1.2 Billion from Ghost Workers in One Month
In a recent announcement, Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State revealed that his government has successfully saved over N1.2 billion in just one month following a screening and payroll audit carried out by the administration. The audit uncovered over 2,500 ghost workers on the state’s payroll, which has been a cause of concern for the government.
Addressing an expanded caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Makurdi, Governor Alia expressed regret over the delay in payment of teachers and local government staff due to the exercise. However, he assured that salaries were already being paid as he spoke.
The Governor emphasized the importance of the screening and audit, stating that it was necessary to uncover financial discrepancies and block existing leakages in the system. He highlighted that the state government’s actions have resulted in a significant reduction in payroll expenses, with the amount paid to teachers decreasing from N1.6 billion to N800 million monthly.
Governor Alia further assured that the audit exercise would continue, and the government would work diligently to identify and recover funds taken unjustly from the state by individuals involved in fraudulent activities. He called for the support and cooperation of the people to achieve the administration’s objectives and ensure the efficient management of public funds.
